Mary Marjorie Macdonald, "Queen of Hotel Thieves"

[don_niagara]

Am searching for any further note of Mary Marjory Macdonald, likely in England. She was born 1884 at Ullapool in Scotland, then after both parents died she was Kyleakin on the Isle of Skye with her uncle, Donald Macdonald (a fishcurer like her father had been). She received a substantial inheritance, losing some to a bad investment.

Likely at Scotland she was a teacher till reaching majority in 1905. She then "became companion to a lady in society, and after that she obtained several positions of a similar nature. In this capacity she travelled widely, staying at the best hotels."

She spent a few years travelling in Germany and France, and by time of the 1911 census was a "Journalist" at London, then "had a lucrative post as secretary to a large firm of London jewellers". Disapearing in 1913, possibly because of a love affair, she returned to Scotland, where she committed several robberies at Dingwall, was convicted, and served sixty days.

Late 1913 she embarked on a nine month long spree of jewell thefts in London hotels, till arrested and locked up in Holloway Gaol. Before that arrest she had been an artist's model, and likely was an artist herself, as she was "Associate of Arts of London University".

Arrested again 1917 and 1919, till last note of her was at trial in 1925 for robberies at Hotels in Brighton.

I have gathered scratch facts and transcribed three newspaper articles regarding her into a file at;
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~coigach/raffles.htm

Guessing she did not retire from her life of crime, I'd be interested to hear if anyone has further note of her!

[don_niagara]

Hello,

I have been asked to post the three articles regarding Mary Marjorie which are transcribed in the file I gave link to, and give further data from the censuses and Civil Registration. I'll post the three newspaper articles first;

From: Oamaru Mail, New Zealand, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12267, 18 June 1914, Page 8 

FEMALE "RAFFLES."
EXPLOITS OF AN ARTIST'S MODEL.

Exploits worthy of a Raffles were admitted bv a girl burglar, who, orphaned at a tender age, inherited a small fortune, but lost part of it, and afterwards descended to crime. Describing herself as an artist's model, Mary Marjorie MacDonald recently pleaded guilty, to three indictments for stealing property from several London houses and hotels.

Mr J. P. Grain (prosecuting) said prisoner's record was a very singular one. She was born at Ullapool (Ross and Cromarty). Her mother died when she was eight, and her father when she was 14. Some of the stolen property was found in her possession at the time of her arrest, and other articles were recovered at a flat at which she lived. Prior to her arrest she had been wandering at 11:30 p.m. about the Langham Hotel. She explained to the night porter that she was not staying there, but had suddenly become overcome with illness. She was taken to the manager, but, nothing being suspected, she was allowed to go.

A detective said that after her father's death accused inherited £1100 and went to reside with her uncle. An unfortunate investment did away with some of her money, and she lived partly by teaching until she was 21. She then went to France and Germany and since her return in 1910 she had met many good friends, who had assisted her, but she had failed to take advantage of her exceptional opportunities. For three weeks before her arrest she acted as an artist's model. In addition to the charges in the indictment, prisoner admitted nine robberies. extending over a period of nine months. Altogether, said the detective, the total value of the jewellery stolen was about £600, and some £490 worth had been recovered from the prisoner and the pawnbrokers with whom she had pledged it for substantial amounts. The doctor at Holloway Gaol had certified that she was of a neurotic temperament. She had shown no signs of mental disorder during her detention, and was responsible for her actions. It was also proved that at Dingwall, Scotland, last year, she was sentenced to 60 days imprisonment on several charges of theft.
 

[don_niagara]

Second article;

From the London Daily Mail, England, 27 March, 1922, page 7

FAR AND NEAR.
 -----
 NEWS BY WIRE AND AIR
 -----

BRIGHTON.

     Hotel Jewel Suspect.-- At Brighton on Saturday Mary Marjorie Macdonald, 30, was charged on remand with stealing a fur coat valued at a £1,000 from the Hotel Metropole, belonging to Mrs. Clara Simon. She was now further charged with stealing jewellery valued at £2,000 from Mrs. Flora Maud Falk, an American visitor staying at the Royal Albion Hotel, and jewellery valued at £300 from Grace Ellen Boxall, also from the same hotel. Detective-Inspector Taylor said that other cases would probably be brought, and the woman was again remanded.

[don_niagara]

Third article;

From: The Ottawa Journal, Canada, 10 January, 1925, Page 13 

FEMALE RAFFLES
 IS GIVEN CREDIT
 FOR DARING WORK
 -----
 Scotland Yard Calls Her
 Most Expert Crook Known.
 -----
 ASSOCIATE OF ARTS
 OF LONDON VARSITY
 -----
 Disappointment in Love
 Affair Starts Her
 Downfall.
 -----

LONDON. (By Mail). - The female "Raffles," Mary Marjory Macdonald. sentenced to 12 months detention, is a highly-educated world-travelled woman, who took a desperate plunge when forsaken in a love affair. Her career since then has been one long series of daring and clever robberies. She is considered by Scotland Yard to be the most expert female "Raffles" in the country, Mary Marjory Macdonald, the "Queen of Hotel Thieves."

Thls apparently trivial incident in the records of crime recalls the amazing career of this charming and good-looking crook, who. ever since 1919, when she received her first sentence of imprisonment, has lived a life of persistent crime --and this despite an education which enabled her to become an Associate of Arts of the London University and the opportunities of lucrative employment which came to her during her early life.

A charming woman who always managed to dress smartly, and who was helped in her exploits by her engaging personality, she is a woman of exceptional intelligence.

On the present occasion, when she was caught in a bedroom at the Hyde Park Hotel, she had only just been released from a sentence of three years penal servitude, passed upon her at Brighton for a long series of hotel thefts, when $25.000 worth of jewellery was discovered in her box at the hotel where she herself was staying.

Caught By Valet.

A valet at the Hyde Park Hotel chanced to hear the sound of drawers being opened in a certain room at the hotel, and entering the apartment was astounded to find the place in darkness. When he turned the light up he found Macdonald standing near to an open drawer. She said she had made a mistake in the number of her room, but it was discovered that she was not staying at the hotel.

Geoffrey Gush. solicitor, on behalf of Macdonald, urged that she was not a criminal in the ordinary sense. Some years ago she was examined by a specialist and found to be suffering from some peculiar neurotic condition.

When she recently stole a fur coat and valuable brooch from the Curson Hotel she went next day to a restaurant and left the property in a chair, hoping that in this way it would get back to the owner. Nevertheless she was ordered to complete the remainder of her last sentence in addition to serve a further term of twelve months.

There is a touch of pathos in the story of this comparatively young woman, for when she was only eight years of age she was left an orphan dependent on the kindness of friends and relatives for her upbringing.

Early in life she became companion to a lady in society, and after that she obtained several positions of a similar nature. In this capacity she travelled widely, staying at the best hotels.

Then she obtained a lucrative post as secretary to a large firm of London jewellers, remaining with them until 1913, when she suddenly disappeared. There is little doubt that the reason for her disappearance on this occasion was a love affair, and it is possible that her downfall was due to its effects.

Worked Daring Schemes.

Deserted and lonely, she took the plunge by stealing a valuable fur coat from the little hotel at which she was staying.

After this there was nothing this frail-looklng little woman would not dare. She would enter the restaurant of an hotel, order dinner, and while sitting at her meal would note the jewellery worn by those staying at the hotel. Having selected those persons wearing the most valuable jewellery she would wait till they rose and calmly follow them to their rooms as though she herself were a guest.

Having noted the number of a particular room she would return to the hotel next day in the early afternoon, and after watching her victim depart hurry up to the room, force the door or open it with skeleton keys, and ransack the place. Over and over again she has had the audacity to ask for the key of a room as though she were its occupant.

She was sentenced In 1917 and 1919, each time for the same sort of offence, beginning over again immediately upon release.

Between January and April, 1923, she committed the amazing series of thefts at Brighton hotels which brought her a term of penal servitude.

Eventually she was caught through the astuteness of a maid at the Royal York Hotel, Brighton. This chambermaid having seen Macdonald enter several rooms, asked her who she was. Macdonald said she was looking for a cloakroom, and the maid, with commendable cunning, offered to show her the way. She ushered the unsuspectlng prisoner into a room, locked the door, posted a guard outside, and rushed for the police.

[don_niagara]

1841 census, includes MM's father, brother, and grandfather mentioned in my post. Croulin is a small island, lowly populated, all the families there were crofters who aided their farming income by fishing through small boats.

My transcription of an image of the 1841 Census at Applecross, Ross and Cromarty, Enumeration District #1, Page #1
Address; Island Of Croulin

Chas Macdonald     37   Farmer
Mary     do           35
Cathrine  do          15
Norman    do       13
John      do       11
Christian  do          9
Issabella  do          7
Donald     do       5
All are marked as born in county.


The marriage registration 14 February, 1878 at Ullapool, Parish of Lochbroom, of MM's parents shows father John as 44 year old Shipowner with usual residence in Parish of Applecross, and mother as 30 year old shopwoman, usual residence Argyle Street, Ullapool. John's father Charles Macdonald noted as Shipmaster, deceased, and Mary, maiden surname Mackenzie, deceased. Margaret's parents noted as Duncan Matheson, Lessee (sp?), deceased, and Jessie, maiden surname Beaton.

Birth of Mary Marjory MacDonald is registered as 8 June, 1884 at Shore Street, Ullapool, parents John MacDonald, fisherman, and Margaret, maiden surname Matheson, the registration confirms her parents names and that they were married 14 February, 1878 in Parish of Lochbroom.

Death is registered 3 February, 1895 at home, Shore Street, Ullapool, of Margaret MacDonald, maiden surname Matheson, aged 48 years. Her mother's maiden surname noted as "Bethune" rather than "Beaton", variant spellings of the same surname.

Death of John MacDonald at Kyleakin, Isle of Skye (Parish of Strath, InvernessShire) 23 September, 1899 aged 69 years, Informant his brother Donald, another fish curer.

On death of John Macdonald a Testament was filed in the Dingwall Sheriff Court, Reference SC25/44/21. It runs to five pages, notes MM resident at Kyleakin, notes the fiftyone people in Ullapool who owed her father money and the amounts, notes money in bank and household and value of possessions, giving total value of estate at 1,730 pounds. Explains no will, so describes MM sole heir and executor as only surviving daughter. Notes MM underaged, so her uncle Donald declared "Executor Dative qua Curator Bonis" on her behalf.

I have not discerned Mary Marjorie or her uncle Donald in the 1901 Scottish census, however MM is in the 1911 census as a 26 year old Lodger, unmarried, occupation "Journalist", at 16 Maddox Street, Hanover Square, London, England. Her after locations as per the places mentioned in the three articles.

Thanks!
Donald.

[loobylooayr]

Hi Donald,
I'm sorry I have no information or connection to your post and Mary Marjorie McDonald. But I just wanted to say it makes fascinating reading - there could be a book or a TV drama in there!
Are you descended from this lady thief?
Good luck with your research
Looby

[jorose]

Hmm, age from the 1922 record shifts her birth sounds like b. 1892 rather than 1884.

http://search.findmypast.co.uk/results/world-records/crime-prisons-and-punishment
 - there's a hit here, again "b. 1892" - could be worth checking out as it might tell you where she was in prison after 1925.

Finding her later could be tricky - she might have changed her name or gone off to Europe again.  There is a possible death for a Mary M. MacDonald in 1926 aged 35 at freebmd.rootsweb.com but no way of telling if this is your woman or not without ordering the certificate (and even then it might not be conclusive).

http://senatehouselibrary.ac.uk/our-collections/historic-collections/archives-manuscripts/university-of-london-student-records-1836-1931/
 - I can't find any record of her as a graduate, but perhaps she did have some connection or attended but didn't graduate and it got exaggerated in the news.

[don_niagara]

Hi Donald,
I'm sorry I have no information or connection to your post and Mary Marjorie McDonald. But I just wanted to say it makes fascinating reading - there could be a book or a TV drama in there!
Are you descended from this lady thief?
Good luck with your research
Looby

Hiya Looby,

no direct relationship to her here either, my website focusses on genealogy and history of Coigach which includes Ullapool where she was born and raised, I think she will be a good addition as a file there.

Since the above posts I have found another ten or so newspaper articles about her, they spell out more details such as she became fluent in French and probably German (she likely also had some Gaelic from her youth), was always "smartly dressed", often in a sealskin coat with satin lining, I have added my transcripts of those articles to the file I linked in the first post, they add quite a bit to her life of crime, but unfortunately do not extend beyond her conviction in 1925.

Donald.

[don_niagara]

Hmm, age from the 1922 record shifts her birth sounds like b. 1892 rather than 1884.

http://search.findmypast.co.uk/results/world-records/crime-prisons-and-punishment
 - there's a hit here, again "b. 1892" - could be worth checking out as it might tell you where she was in prison after 1925.

Finding her later could be tricky - she might have changed her name or gone off to Europe again.  There is a possible death for a Mary M. MacDonald in 1926 aged 35 at freebmd.rootsweb.com but no way of telling if this is your woman or not without ordering the certificate (and even then it might not be conclusive).

http://senatehouselibrary.ac.uk/our-collections/historic-collections/archives-manuscripts/university-of-london-student-records-1836-1931/
 - I can't find any record of her as a graduate, but perhaps she did have some connection or attended but didn't graduate and it got exaggerated in the news.

Thanks JoRose! I'll take a boo at those links

Age, and spelling of names, varied in reports, but her colourful career is unique. I agree she probably did not sit for a degree, though some of the articles note she had one, I think she was probably made "Associate" at London University based on accomplishments, interesting she was an artist's model, and spent time at Paris when some of the early 20th century masters were painting there, I wonder if she might be one of the unidentified models in one of those works!

Donald.