Pollaky became famous (or infamous) for investigations leading to divorce cases. The Standard of Monday, 13 July 1863 reported on the case of John Pym Yeatman, a barrister, who lost his case for divorce on the grounds of the adultery of his wife with ‘a person passing as prince Hohenlohe, at Handschuksheim, in Germany’. It transpired during the proceedings that this was not the first time Yeatman had sought a divorce from his wife. In 1858 he had falsely cited insanity as grounds, having previously sent her to a lunatic asylum from which she had escaped. Yeatman had then accompanied his wife to Germany where he had then deserted her. After this, she had found ‘that a detective named Pollaki [sic], not present, had been dogging her steps, and that these unknown persons from Germany were fixed upon by Pollaki to prove an act which there was no other single act to lead up to or support’.
This next report, though Pollaky is not mentioned till the end, is included here as it is a wonderfully told story, that ought not to be lost to posterity. Indeed, it almost feels like it belongs in the collection of the 1001 Nights, so fragrant is the language used by the writer:
The Empire, Sydney – Monday, 31 August 1863
A MISER’S CAREER. – The extraordinary circumstances connected with the death of an old miser named Crepin, which took place on the 11th August, 1858, in Lyons, are still undoubtedly fresh in the recollection of many of our readers. Crepin was an old bonhomme, from whom nobody would have withheld a penny in the streets if he had asked for it, and who, if it had been offered, would certainly not have refused it. Having retired from business with about 100,000f., which he had accumulated in the space of a few years, thanks to lucky and certain speculations of every description, he raised that sum to a fortune considerably exceeding a million. But the great source of his riches was his sordid avarice, which even induced him to tear down bills posted up on the streets in order to write his receipts upon the back, instead of making use of stamps, as the law exacts; and yet these receipts represented the rent of several houses which brought him a decent income. Dressed in a coat which a superb burnish of grease and dirt rendered proof against all weathers, and his head sheltered from the sun and rain by a hat that outlived the storm of the first revolution, one would have taken him for a fugitive pauper. But every one residing in his quarter knew that he was the millionaire Crepin, possessing superb mansions in the best quarters of Lyons, the rent of which he made his tenant[s] pay nine months in advance, while all were expelled – the clause was inserted in the agreement in every case – who required any repairs to be done. But the deity who caused the destruction of Troy also caused that of pere Crepin; not that the wronged and artful deity ever succeeded in loosening his purse-strings, but he gifted a cunning woman with charms sufficient to induce Crepin to live with her and her husband, and that woman eventually managed so completely to wind him round her finger that in his will he made her his heiress. Finding, however, that he did not die soon enough, she had recourse to poison in order to hasten the opening of the will, which made her twice a millionaire. The indiscretion of an accomplice, who did not think himself sufficiently well-paid, let the public know the horrible crime committed upon the person of the deceased, and all the turpitude which had preceded it. Since the Dumollard [a French serial killer] case the public has not been so impressed by any judicial drama, and it is the tribunal of Lyons which had the honor of finally condemning the guilty trio, namely, the man Favre and his wife – (the inheritors of Old Crepin’s fortune of 1,700,00f.) – the woman to twelve years, and the husband to five years’ hard labour, and the accomplice, Claude Charel, also to twelve years. After the trial the property was of course sequestered. But on the day the verdict was given the heirs of Crepin commenced proceedings in the civil court to have the will revoked, and Mr. Pollaky is now conducting the inquiries on their behalf as next of kin of old Crepin in England with a view to support these proceedings in the Justice Civile (Common Pleas) which is about to give its decision on the affair of old Crepin, by application en declaration d’idignite made by the legitimate heirs of the late Mr Crepin against the convict Favre, according to the provisions of the article 727 of the Code Napoleon, at the First Chamber of the Tribunal Civile of Lyons.
A number of interesting facts emerge from the next report. The descriptions of Pollaky, firstly as mysterious and then as indefatigable, give some light both as to his character as well as to the opinion that the public and press had of him. He had evidently been approached by reporters to give a statement, but had refused to give them any information. Inspector Hamilton and Sergeant Webb both appeared in Pollaky’s correspondence with the Metropolitan Police the previous year:
Morning Post – Wednesday, 7 October 1863
Owing to a report which appeared in the papers yesterday stating that the fugitive Sigmund Dietichstein [incorrectly spelled!], for whose apprehension it will be remembered, a warrant was issued from the Mansion-house, charging him with defrauding one of the banks of about 10,000l., had been taken into custody in Austria, long before the hour arrived for the commencement of the business of the court a number of persons had assembled before the gate leading to the steps of the police-court, expecting that the prisoner had arrived, and would be brought up for examination. It will be remembered that Ditrichstein left this country on the 29th August last, and almost simultaneously with his flight the mysterious Pollaky also disappeared, and a notice was issued to the effect that he had gone on the continent for a fortnight, which naturally led to the belief that the services of this indefatigable foreigner had been engaged to trace the fugitive. For the last two days his reappearance in London has caused considerable curiosity, but nothing could be gained from him respecting the matter, though there is not the slightest doubt that the surmise was a true one, and moreover that the apprehension of the fugitive is beyond a doubt. The following facts which may be relied upon, may be given. Mr Pollaky and Sergeant Moss, a detective of the City of London police force, under the direction of Mr Hamilton the inspector of the detective staff, who with Sergeant Webb has been unremitting in his exertions to gain information in town, proceeded to Ostend, where they had reason to believe Mrs Ditrichstein was staying. On arriving there, however, they found she had left, but they ascertained that she had paid her hotel bill with some money which formed part of the proceeds of the alleged fraud, thus establishing beyond a doubt that there had been some communication between her and her husband. From inquiries they made at Ostend, they had no doubt that Mrs Ditrichstein had proceeded over the North German lines to Austria, and her movements led to the belief that she would proceed to Hungary, where in all probability it was thought she would meet her husband, that being the native country of both. They succeeded in tracing Mrs Ditrichstein to Vienna, where, having communicated with the Austrian police, Moss was furnished with their ready assistance. Mrs Ditrichstein was then traced to Pesth, in Hungary, where, as was expected, she met her husband, Sigmund Ditrichstein, who was apprehended by Moss, after an interview with his wife. Owing to some formalities which had to be gone through in respect to the Austrian police some delay has taken place in handing the prisoner over to the English authorities. Great credit is due to the officer Moss, and also to Inspector Hamilton and Webb. Pollaky is himself a native of Hungary. The prisoner cannot possibly arrive for a day or two.
The police had made use of his ability and experience in a case that took them to the continent. Austria and Hungary were, of course, home territory to Pollaky. Three days later further information about the course of the investigation was reported in the Liverpool Mercury:
Liverpool Mercury – Saturday, 10 October 1863
Some additional particulars of the arrest of the now notorious Sigismund [sic] Ditrichstein have transpired […] The persons most actively engaged in the search for the fugitive were Detective Moss of the City Police, and Mr Pollaky, of George-street, Mansion-house, the latter having been employed by Messrs. Mullins, the solicitors of the Poultry [a street in the City of London], to accompany the officer
as interpreter. In the course of their inquiries they found that a photographer in the neighbourhood of Worthing, where the prisoner resided, had portraits in the negative shape as well of him as of his wife and child, and from these about 1500 copies have since been taken and largely distributed both here and abroad, accompanied by a detailed description in print of the prisoner’s personal appearance. […] Having communicated with the Austrian police, they continued their pursuit to Presburg [sic], a Hungarian town some 35 miles east of Vienna. They soon discovered that the wife of Ditrichstein had been living there, and also that her husband had been seen in the neighbourhood; but on inquiry it was found they had quitted the place, when and how no one could tell. A clue after much difficulty was discovered, and the officer and Pollaky left Presburg and proceeded to a town on the frontiers of Austria, from thence to Pesth, in Hungary, where Ditrichstein’s wife was found to have joined her husband […]
This is the only record of Pollaky visiting his home town. He had not been in Pressburg for at least thirteen years. Did he visit his old haunts? Were his parents still alive? Did he see other members of his family or old friends? There is no way of knowing how he felt about going back to the place he had left behind.
The fraud in which Ditrichstein was involved caused payment on a number of high currency banknotes, including two £500 notes, to be stopped, and for this fact to be advertised as far away as Australia. He was finally brought to trial the following September, and cleared of wrongdoing, claiming that others had been responsible for the fraud. Ditrichstein (or Dietrichstin), Hungarian or Austrian by birth, had married Theresa Elizabeth May in Richmond, Surrey in 1858 when he was 28 and she 21. After his capture, he had written a letter to his prosecutors from Vienna offering to assist in the recovery of the missing money. About £6,000 was recovered as a result. After the trial, they disappear from the records.
Finally, Pollaky installed himself into 13 Paddington Green, the address for which he is best known. The family were still living at 9 Portsdown Road, though.
The Times – Wednesday, 21 October 1863
AUDI, VIDE, TACE. – Private Inquiries in England and Abroad. – Evidence for Divorce Court. – City firms and others are waited upon personally by Mr POLLAKY (late of George-street, Mansion-house) or if more agreeable, may consult with him at No. 13, Paddington-green. W.
1864
The Times – Monday, 18 January 1864
INFAMOUS TRAFFIC. – Several advertisements headed ‘Corps de Ballet’ having lately appeared in many English and foreign newspapers, which upon investigation, turn out to be only a cloak for the purpose of inveigling English girls to the continent for nefarious motives, virtuous GIRLS are herewith CAUTIONED against this new scheme. – POLLAKY, Private Inquiry-office, 13, Paddington-green W.
The Times – Thursday, 28 January 1864
LADIES of the ARISTOCRACY and others are herewith CAUTIONED against a woman, who (by some means at present unknown) has possessed herself of the visiting cards of various ladies of distinction; and, by using them as a means of introduction at their friends’, has succeeded in inducing the latter to make purchases of worthless Chinese silks, &c. She is a stout, fair person, wearing a brown dress and black velvet bonnet with white feathers. – POLLAKY, Private Inquiry-office, 13, Paddington-green, W.
The matter of police supplying information about private individuals upon request to private investigators was raised in a debate in the House of Commons. Sir George Grey responded that he was putting in place steps to ‘prevent the continuation of the practice’. This was reported in Hansard on Thursday, 3 March 1864.
The Times – Monday, 11 April 1864
Sans CŒUR. – Owing to my unavoidable absence from England for a fortnight, I shall be unable to attend to your business till my return. – Mr. Pollaky, Private Inquiry-office, No.13, Paddington-green.
There follows a spoof advertisement from Fun. Offensive in its snide use of Pollaky’s name, the remarks that follow the fake advertisement combine the popular song Polly Perkins of Paddington Green, with the implication that Pollaky was one who might ‘pry’ into affairs that did not concern him.
Fun – Saturday, 7 May 1864
FROM THE SECOND COLUMN
ALL advertisements are funny, and the following is no exception to the rule: –
SANS COEUR. – I am returned, and now at your disposal. – MR. POLLAKY, P.I.O – 13, Paddington-green.
This has a deep political meaning. MR. PAUL (PRY)LAKY is returned – for a county or borough, of course – and is now at the disposal of whom? Time will show, and in the meantime we advise all England to keep its weather eye open. What is the meaning of the mysterious letters P.I.O? Is it POPE PIO? No, no, it can’t be that. The last sentence is probably intended to be read thus: MR POLLA(KY) P(ERKINS) I(nhabiting) O(f) 13, Paddington-green. That’s it.
In 1886, Pollaky’s name would again be associated with the expression ‘Paul Pry’ (referring to private detectives), in An Iron-Bound City – a novel by John Augustus O’Shea. Paul Pry was a three-act farce by John Poole first performed in London in 1825. The central character is an interfering busybody.
A short paragraph in the Cheshire Observer quoted another item from Fun. The misspelling of Pollaky’s name is intentional. The writer, attempting to criticise using humour, manages instead to be snooty and crude:
Cheshire Observer – Saturday, 2 July 1864
HI, SPY, HI! – The spy system is not a favourite in England: consequently it was with feelings of intense gratification we observed that Sir James Wilde had dismissed a case with costs in the Divorce Court, principally on account of the employal by the petitioner of one of those disreputable evidence-hunters. For our own parts – and in this we believe we’re expressing the feelings of the whole people of England – we rejoice particularly at any failure of obtaining even justice, when caused by such means, and we wish that the whole spy business as of late years introduced into our island, whether disguised under the title of Grubb’s Trade Protection Society, or Rollaky’s [sic] Private Inquiry Office, were – – We leave a space for the exact fate we desire for the fellows, but our readers can supply it for themselves by inserting anything very unpleasant indeed. – Fun.
The Times – Monday, 18 July 1864
ANONYMA. – FIVE THOUSAND FRANCS REWARD. Whereas some evil disposed persons did maliciously write and unlawfully print and circulate a pamphlet (French) containing libellous accusations against the fair fame of an English Lady residing in Paris, the above reward will be given to any one who shall furnish the names of the parties so offending to Mr Pollaky, private inquiry office, 13, Paddington-green, W.
Morning Post – Tuesday 9 August 1864
Pieter Broughsmann, a German described as a cattle minder on board ships, was brought before the Lord Mayor yesterday, charged with having committed an indecent assault upon Mary Anne Eliza Williams, a little girl nine years of age, residing with her father at 15, Love-lane, City.
Mr Pollaky was present to watch the case on behalf of the Society for the Protection of Young Females, 28, Old Broad-street.
The evidence left no doubt that the prisoner had committed the offence imputed to him, and further that he attempted to allure the child on board the boat by telling her that her father was on board and wanted her.
Mr Pollaky informed the Lord Mayor that it was not the first attempt of a similar character that had been made about Tower-hill.
There had been previous complaints of this sort against the accused, and the Lord Mayor described it as, ‘a very bad case’; Broughsmann was sentenced to six months with hard labour.
The Times – Friday, 19 August 1864
ANONYMA. – Through the discovery of the names of the writer and printer of a certain libellous French pamphlet, entitled ‘Anonyma’ the REWARD of £200 offered in The Times is herewith WITHDRAWN. – Pollaky’s Private Inquiry Office, 13, Paddington-green, W.
A strange item appeared in the Wells Journal – Saturday, 29 Octob
er 1864, and the Newsman – Sunday, 30 October 1864. It seems that on 19 October a letter had been, ‘extensively circulated among bankers’ and merchant’s clerks and also medical men’, which had been signed ‘pro Pollarky [sic] and Co., N.U.E.’ The letter was an attempt to extort money from the recipients; it asked them to inform on their employers if they believed them to be working illegally. Pollaky had instructed his solicitors, Lewis and Lewis, to deny any connection with it and the matter had been reported to the presiding alderman at the Guildhall. Mr Lewis, junior, said, ‘the signature is a forgery, and [...] Mr Pollaky’s name is not spelt so; he has no partner, and never under any circumstances, sanctioned his name being used; [...] he believes that [...] these letters are sent in consequence of the prominent part taken by Mr Pollaky lately in exposing the nefarious practices of certain employment agencies.’
That Pollaky’s name was already known enough to be used by fraudsters in this fashion must be an indication of the amount of attention his work had already received. It is interesting to note that he had no partners in his firm, although he employed agents to work for him when necessary.
The Newsman reports the matter impartially. The Wells Journal reporter, on the other hand, manages to have a few digs at Pollaky, stating that the writer of the letter came ‘from that dreary neighbourhood, which only “pretty Polly Perkins” has made famous – Paddington Green’, that the solicitor had ‘of course’ taken advantage of the occasion to ‘puff’ Pollaky, and that ‘Mr Pollaky, (a Hungarian refugee, I believe) in fact, makes a very good advertisement out of this application’. The reporter denigrates the work of private detectives, calling it ‘un-English’, and further, states, ‘the whole detective system requires legislative interference’.
Paddington' Pollaky, Private Detective Page 16