Arthur survived the bomb attack but his mother-in-law Margaret Johnstone was killed outright. Thompson received a not proven verdict, despite the eyewitness accounts of Joe and his brother. But when I was with Thompson I was safe and I could have had anything in the pub that I wanted that night.. He had been a regular visitor to Northern Ireland. So the person in charge would have to have been something very special, and Arthur was certainly that.. "His depravity is veneered with conformity and deadly quietness, and he is difficult to undermine when he is on the alert. In the United States, MS-13 is making its deadly mark. Family and friends must say goodbye to their beloved Rita Thompson (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma), who passed away at the age of 64, on August 18, 2021. In 1966 he had been involved in a high-value theft of clothes from a shop in Glasgow and was sentenced to four years in prison. Thompson later gave a personal undertaking to the police that he would not harm the two officers. Young Arthur - nicknamed Fat Boy by his detractors - had been released that Saturday morning from Noranside Prison in Angus on a weekend parole as part of a training for freedom programme. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. All rights reserved. Using JVC S-VHS VCR, at SP onto JVC SV-Master grade tape, tape A. In October 2016, the gang is believed to have murdered up to 6 people in the Brentwood area of New York including two teenage girls. In his day, he said, "gangsters were hard men. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the. Drag your file here or click Browse below. Rita Thompson in GA - Address & Phone Number | Whitepages A funeral mass will be held at 11 AM, on Wednesday, March 1, 2023, at St. Michaels Catholic Church, Galena where friends may gather after 10:30 AM until the time of mass. Both bodies are thought to have been stored at business premises not far from the Cottage Bar overnight, then driven to Darleith Street around mid-morning. Police have confirmed that the body of Matthew Cosgrove was discovered in the Lesmahagow area on Friday afternoon. In time-honoured tradition, Thompson failed to speak out against the brothers and they were cleared of all charges. Find census, military, and other historical records.*. Thompson signed into a private clinic in the West End of Glasgow and told police the injury was caused by a broken drill bit. Glasgow gangster Arthur Thompson, known as The Godfather, pictured with his wife Rita Thompson.Circa 1970. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. Thompson was supported loyally in his criminal enterprises by his wife the diminutive Rita who bore him four children. One infamous recent incident occurred when a member in San Francisco killed a man and his two sons for the crime of briefly blocking his car. These adverts enable local businesses to get in front of their target audience the local community. [5], Thompson also survived two further attempts on his life; he was shot in the groin outside his home "The Ponderosa" in Provanmill, named after a ranch in the Western television series Bonanza in 1985. Moment 70mph train misses careless pedestrian by just INCHES Family and friends can send flowers and/or light a candle as a loving gesture for their loved one. 17-19 Garway Road Facebook gives people the power to. The gangster was always the same dealing with the police. Today, the Mungikis membership is approximately 500,000, and it is quickly gaining a reputation as one of the worlds deadliest gangs. In 1969 she was jailed for three years for stabbing a female member of the rival Welsh family in her home and even wrote letters to the Parole Board on Thompsons behalf while inside. This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standards Organisation's Gang members are prone to psychotically violent behavior. It was now all about drugs and there Wattie drew the line. Thompsons name was enough to strike fear into anyone who crossed him. In June, it began a reign of terror against matatu drivers and conductors while also targeting people who defected from the gang. As the school's most distinguished benefactors . One police file said: The overall picture of Thompson is that of aviolent, vicious and active criminal who will stop at nothing to uphold his position in the underworld as a hard man and to gain his own ends.. Around 500 bodies of Mungiki gang members have turned up in bushes outside Nairobi; they are probably victims of in-fighting. A Gannett Company. Again, Arthur survived and refused to make any statement to the police. It is important that we continue to promote these adverts as our local businesses need as much support as possible during these challenging times. Thompson would also carry out hits for the Krays in London and they would do the same in return in Glasgow. He was caught and, as criminals did at the time, called for the legendary lawyer Joe Beltrami, who hired advocate Nicky Fairbairn to defend him. READ MORE:The Glasgow crime story of the murder of Jackie Gallagher. The iconic firm was formed back in 1965. He recognised them immediately as they and Ferris were regulars. As his power and wealth grew, so did his influence. It was clear to everyone in the citys underworld what type of message was being sent out with the double murder. Rita M. Glasgow - Furlong Funeral Chapel See Rita S Thompson's age, phone number, house address, email address, social media accounts, public records, and check for criminal records on Spokeo. Richard Thompson - Live Glasgow 1999 full concert HD - YouTube His closing years were plagued by two bouts of cancer, first of the bowel and then the lung. Ironically Ferriss incarceration by the authorities saved his life. [5] In 1969, Thompson's wife Rita forced her way into the Welsh home and stabbed Patrick Welsh's widow in the chest; she was jailed for three years. The gunman, an IRA hitman, had been hired by a rival to kill him. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. However, despite the murder of his son, the Godfather wasn't quite finished yet. Editors' Code of Practice. In 1989, Arthur's daughter, Margaret, died of a drugs overdose. Even when his own son was murdered outside his front door, he ordered his family not to give them statements or tell what they had seen. He was a very violent, ruthless, clever criminal and a real nasty piece of work. Both had been dumped in the well of Hanlon's Ford Orion car parked in Darleith Street a few yards from it's entrance. This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standards Organisation's inaccuracy or intrusion, then please Rita M. Glasgow Obituary (2023) | Galena, Illinois - Echovita ', Tell-tale sign a coin is rare as expert urges Glaswegians to check change. Many of the immigrants that arrived in the United States during the 1980s were used to violence as El Salvador is one of the worlds most dangerous places to live. He was a very violent, ruthless, clever criminal and a real nasty piece of work. Rita Profiles | Facebook According to legend, he introduced himself to the Kray brothers by bursting into a club they frequented with a gun and shouting: Im Arthur Thompson, from Glasgow, remember my name. Whether the story is true or not, he worked as an enforcer for the brothers. As money rolled in, they converted their council home into a palace, buying the property next door and knocking the two together. He is a consummate villain. Head of crime clan Arthur Thompson His father ruled Glasgow's crime scene and was rumoured to have raked in 100,000 a week from protection rackets. It was also rumoured that Thompson was involved in the 1963 Great Train robbery when 2.6 million (equivalent to around 30m now) was stolen from the Glasgow to London mail train. By this stage in his career Norval had a wife in Liddesdale Street, Milton, and a mistress, Jean, whom he housed separately, in Willowbank Street, but who remained loyal to him for the rest of his life. Tributes have been paid to Rita Rusk, once dubbed Scotland's first lady of hairdressing, after her death at the age of 75. Family and friends gathered in Motherwell to pay their respects to little Isabella Grace Docherty and lit lanterns for the five-year-old who died hours after complaining of feeling sick. At 1.30pm, five cars left her home in Provanmill Road in Glasgow's East End bound for nearby Riddrie Park Cemetery. Please note that only low-res files should be uploaded. Rita Thompson Obituary. You can make a complaint by using the report this post link . At one time, he had at least 20 pubs in Glasgow paying him 4000 each week. Today, there is an estimated 70,000 members throughout Central and North America. Arthur Thompson (gangster) - Wikipedia The following year, the Mungiki fought against Kenyan police and two officers died. The term Mungiki means multitude or united people in the Kikuyu language. Others probably organised the double execution as a favour to him and out of respect. Police stopped a 38-year-old man on the A82 near Renton today for driving a vehicle which was in a state of disrepair. YASSER FEVER; TENS OF THOUSANDS MOB ARAFAT COFFIN. [11][12][13], Thompson died at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary on 13 March 1993 from a heart attack at the age of 61. Arthurs influence began to wane while his son was in prison and other gangs saw the chance of rich pickings. His coffin was carried by members of a biker club, his six daughters and a granddaughter all wore matching red outfits and music from the Clash blared out as the retinue made its way into the crematorium. Billy Thompson has now been taken off the critical list and looks set to make a full recovery. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com. Kenyans who live in the slums carrying the body of a suspected Mungiki member. Norval went down for 14 years. One of its founders claims that the Mungiki began as a local militia in the 1980s. While Arthur liked to make money and stay out of the limelight, Fatboy loved being known as a major player in Glasgow and reveled in showing off his wealth. Thompson was one of the most feared criminals in Scotland. How Rita Ora and Dua Lipa have mirrored each other over . Which was only partly true because he hurt many nobodies. Shelter Scotland launch Glasgow Central Station pop up clothes shops. He was also cleared of attempting to murder Arthur Thompson Snr by repeatedly driving a car at him and threatening to murder another man William Gillen by shooting him in the leg. For McPhee, the end was always going to come like this.' [5] Their bodies had been dumped on the route of Fatboy's funeral procession, so that his hearse passed their dead bodies. The young cop who took on the Godfather rose through the ranks to become head of the Strathclyde Police Serious Crime Squad and retired at the rank of Detective Superintendent in 1992. On one occasion, the then BBC broadcaster accompanied Thompson to an underworld pub in London. In 1988, Thompson had another lucky escape when he was shot in the groin in a demolition yard he owned in the East End of Glasgow. Arthurs son Billy became a heroin addict, and his daughter Margaret died from a heroin overdose. By now, his son Arthur Jr., also known as Fatboy, was in charge of the gang as Arthur Sr. took a backseat. In the 1960s, his wife Rita was employed as a singer, with one pub paying a fee of 200 for each performance the equivalent of 4000 in todays money. Glasgow crime stories: Arthur Thompson who ruled the city's underworld for more than 30 years. In the 1960s, his wife Rita was employed as a singer, with one pub paying a fee of 200 for each performance the equivalent of 4000 in todays money. His daughter Rita, who had married one of the Blue Angels bikers (like Hell's Angels, only dirtier! The young cop rose through the ranks to become head of the Strathclyde Police Serious Crime Squad and retired at the rank of Detective Superintendent in 1992. Father Neil McGarrity has been placed on the sex offenders register after being found guilty of four sexual assaults and one charge of engaging in sexual activity. At one time, he had at least 20 pubs in Glasgow paying him 4000 each week. Search by name or location to find online obituaries. Announcements and Notices | Glasgow Times Thirty years later no one has yet been charged with the murders or stood trial. He booked himself into a private clinic and told the police the injury had been caused by a drill bit which broke off. Pentatln femenino - Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre When they arrived in Los Angeles, they encountered an established system of Latin gangs and were not welcome. "He didnt care if he had money in his pocket. Feedback | At the tender age of nineteen, he had become the crime bosss feared enforcer, collecting debts on his behalf. He would have given his last penny to anybody, and he often did., Trouble was it was someone else's money. [9] He was acquitted of all charges. One of his main sources of income over the years was providing protection to pubs in the city. They can be seen laughing and seemingly kissing each other. 5 Notorious Gangs that Terrorized City Streets Around the World No one man had dominated organised crime in the city quite like Arthur Thompson and no one man ever would. Thompson died at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary on 13 March 1993 from a heart attack at the age of 61. It is important that we continue to promote these adverts as our local businesses need as much support as possible during these challenging times. The grim find was made by the pubs manager who was passing at the time on his way to open up. Rita Thompson - who left an estimated pounds 2million - told pals she wanted her will to pay for a gangland hit on former mobster Ferris, who was cleared of murdering her son Arthur jnr in 1992. Despite these issues, Arthur made a fortune from drugs and was also reportedly earning 100,000 a week as a loan shark. The eyewitnesses who did not speak up at the trial were not bad people, they were just terrified of Thompson and what he might do to them.. Thompson in turn was accused of the culpable homicide of Goldie and Welsh. Rita Thompson is on Facebook. [6] Thompson was charged with murder but not prosecuted as the police could find no witnesses who would testify. He even threatened to bomb the homes of two off-duty police officers after they saw him kill two men in Royston Road, Glasgow, in May that year. Joe Jackson was with his older brother John when they saw Thompson, in his top-of-the-range Jaguar, force a van into a lamppost, killing the occupants, James Goldie and Patrick Welsh. Something went wrong, please try again later. Join Facebook to connect with Rita and others you may know. How Fat Boy and the Apprentice unleashed Glasgow's gang wars As a result the takeover never took place. The Godfather was reportedly able to use his prison contacts to have steaks, alcohol and chocolate delivered to him each day in his cell. Around 10pm, on August 17, Arthur left his parents house to walk the short distance to his own home where he lived with his wife and young daughter. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Results will return exact matches only.Any images with overlay of text may not produce accurate results.Details of larger images will search for their corresponding detail. Tony Thompson reports, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. Supports are provided on site 24/7 including case workers from JHS and medical services provided by Ottawa Inner City Health (OICH) - a non-profit organization that provides health care to homeless and street involved people. You can send your sympathy in the guestbook provided and share it with the family. Even when his own son was murdered outside his own front door, he ordered his family not to give them statements. Arthur Thompson, Rita Thompson.Circa, Glasgow - Global ImageWorks By the 1980s, Glasgow was in the midst of a heroin epidemic as the drug flooded into the city in a market worth up to 30 million. The driver also failed a roadside drug wipe for cannabis. One retired publican said: To stop trouble all the landlord or bar manager in one of those pubs needed to say was, This is Arthur Thompsons place.. Rita Thompson - Facebook Its rumoured Thompson was present when Ronnie infamously shot George Cornell of the rival Richardson gang in Londons Blind Beggar pub in 1966. Although he has been dead for nearly eight years, the name of Arthur Thompson still induces instant amnesia or muteness in Provanmill residents. He accused Paul Ferris, a former enforcer for the gang, of trying to kill him in 1988. The Mungiki sect emerged from Kenyas biggest ethnic group; known as the Kikuyu. Copyright 2006 Gale, Cengage Learning. Add up to 5 colours and slide the dividers to adjust the composition, Click for a quote that fits your requirements. By the Eighties, the Thompson clan had moved into the drug trade led by the Thompsons' eldest son, Arthur Jnr, known as Fat Boy, who operated out of Blackpool. He is said to run his empire from a luxury yacht. Glasgow Crime Stories : The murder of Arthur Thompson Jnr Thompson later gave a personal undertaking to a senior police officer that he would not harm the two officers. Three months later, Thompson narrowly escaped death when he was in a car that exploded outside his house. In dramatic scenes, Thompson and the Welshes both stood trial at the same time at the High Court in Glasgow. It is always difficult saying goodbye to someone we love and cherish. *** Local Caption *** Scottish gangs This photo license is intended for editorial use only. All rights reserved. We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse. We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments. Arthur Thompson, known as the Godfather in the city, formed the gang and began his career as a money lender in a council estate. United Kingdom, {"event":"pageview","page_type1":"catalog","page_type2":"image_page","language":"en","user_logged":"false","user_type":"ecommerce","nl_subscriber":"false"}, {"event":"ecommerce_event","event_name":"view_item","event_category":"browse_catalog","ecommerce":{"items":[{"item_id":"MPX5165602","item_brand":"other","item_category":"photo","item_category2":"no_copyright","item_category3":"standard","item_category5":"not_balown","item_list_name":"search_results","item_name":"glasgow_gangster_arthur_thompson_with_his_wife_rita_thompson_c_1970_b_w_photo","item_variant":"undefined"}]}}. rita thompson glasgow Gangsters usually have elaborate and colourful funerals and Walter Norval's was no different. If you are dissatisfied with the response provided you can THE widow of Arthur Thompson, the former Glasgow godfather, has died. In 1970 the then governor of Craiginches prison in Aberdeen describe Thompson as a thug of the worst kind who along with another inmate was running warring factions inside and outside of prison. This site is part of Newsquest's audited local newspaper network. View Jessie Kay Thompson results including current phone number, address, relatives, background check report, and property record with Whitepages. However, Rita never sang a note. His criminal career, however, was not quite over and his last brush with it, ironically, involved drugs. Police have run up against a wall of silence, but believe the murder is linked to drugs. By the early 1980's Thompson - now in his 50's - was all-powerful in Glasgow and beyond. The violence was on a much, much higher level. The story of Glasgow's original Godfather, Walter Norval The goal was to protect Kikuyu farmers in their land disputes with the Maasai and local government forces dominated by the Kalenjin tribe. Those ads you do see are predominantly from local businesses promoting local services. Whoever did that was taking a big chance as Hanlon's Ford Orion was well known to the police and was regularly stopped. Rita S Thompson, Glasgow, KY (42141) - Spokeo The gangster was always the same dealing with the police. View Rita Thomson results including current phone number, address, relatives, background check report, and property record with Whitepages. He was Glasgows equivalent of Don Corleone, the fictional New York crime boss immortalised by Marlon Brando in the classic Oscar-winning Godfather movie. READ MORE:The Glasgow Crime Story of Eleni Pachou who was murdered in her work Di Maggio's. Two weeks later Joe learned of Thompsons plans to blow up both his and Johns homes in Glasgow. HE was Glasgows equivalent of Don Corleone, the fictional New York crime godfather immortalised in his portrayal by Marlon Brando. Veteran crime reporter Ron McKay tells the story of Walter Norval, the former boss of Glasgow's infamous XYY Gang. He forced their van off the road by driving his own car directly at it the van hit a lamp post and both men were killed. One police file said: The overall picture of Thompson is that of a violent, vicious and active criminal who will stop at nothing to uphold his position in the underworld as a hard man and to gain his own ends". To quote from Norval's musical epitaph, My daddy was a bankrobber, but he never hurt nobody, he just loved to live that way, and he loved to steal your money.". Rita Thompson, 72, who had throat cancer, died on Tuesday. Newsquest Media Group Ltd, Loudwater Mill, Station Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. In his 2009 autobiography, legendary Scottish football commentator Archie MacPherson revealed he was paid up to 500 a time in the early 1980s to host events organised by Thompson.