Sniffer Dean continued to operate as police informer and underworld fixer until 1954. Then his life changed after he was inadvertently caught up in a gangland fight, during which a London gangster was killed. The publicity engendered by this, plus his colourful nickname, made him a minor celebrity and, after serving a two-year sentence, he became resident rogue on one of ITV’s first real-life crime series. Later, he served on the government’s advisory committee on prison reform.
No one was charged with the assassination of Martin Hunter. The investigation pointed to Thomas Henry Crick, one of the rebels killed by commandos at Broadcasting House. It was established that he had committed other crimes on behalf of the Red Brigade, and he was known as a top marksman with a rifle. But there was insufficient evidence, and the inquest returned a verdict of murder by a person or persons unknown.
Emily Hart married George Fowler. Friends said that this was just so that she could cease paying him wages but in fact they’d become quite fond of each other. They ran the Cavendish together for ten years, and then retired to Eastbourne, where George was able to continue his sea-fishing, and Emily revived her theatrical interests with the local amateur dramatic club.
James Hoskins, whose unorthodox approach and lack of respect for his superiors had long irritated the Establishment, was encouraged to take early retirement in the fifties. He had earned particular disfavour by demanding, unsuccessfully, an investigation into Kim Philby, a highly regarded figure in British Intelligence, whom he suspected of being a traitor. Hoskins retired to Buckinghamshire, where he grew roses and became a successful author of books for young children. His wife did the illustrations. Hoskins consistently declined to disclose information about the activities of British Intelligence, preferring to honour the oath he had taken when he joined. Back in 1945, Hoskins had traced Mark Jefferson’s widowed mother, and arranged for her to receive a pension from British Intelligence, plus a letter from the King, commending her son’s courage in the service of his country.
Copyright
© Edward Taylor 2012
First published in Great Britain 2012
This edition 2013
ISBN 978 0 7198 0951 4 (epub)
ISBN 978 0 7198 0952 1 (mobi)
ISBN 978 0 7198 0953 8 (pdf)
ISBN 978 0 7090 9966 6 (print)
Robert Hale Limited
Clerkenwell House
Clerkenwell Green
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The right of Edward Taylor to be identified as
author of this work has been asserted by him
in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and
Patents Act 1988
The Shadow of Treason Page 23