The Camden Tales

36 - The Telegram

-=₪ February 1926 ₪=-

A.B.C / Bonny Street / 8:57am

The tiny black hands slowly moved around the pearl white face, as Alfie stared at the pocket watch in his palm. He was sat at his desk in the office of the bakery, leaning back in his brown leather chair, feet up, and smoked his pipe. Sat opposite was Malka, quietly reading the paper.

"Oh fuck." she whispered.

Alfie didn't like the way Malka breathlessly delivered the obscenity. His stare lifted from the watch to ask with silent eyes what his wife had read to cause such a reaction. Malka felt his gaze and the question not asked. Clearing her throat, she read an article aloud.

Shooting in Artillery Square

An armed fight broke out in Birmingham yesterday as six men commenced deadly warfare with handguns and heavy artillery amongst working men and families.

The reported battle lasted approximately ten minutes as children and elderly alike narrowly escaped with their lives.

One local resident reported, "My washing was sprayed with blood." while another remarked, "It was horrifying."

Three of the men involved were killed during the deadly gun fight, each believed to be Italian theatre aficionados visiting from abroad.

The shooting continued as armed police arrived on the scene. Two men alluded law enforcement while a third was seen violently attacking officers as they attempted to apprehend. The suspect was later identified as Mr Thomas Shelby OBE, widower, and father of one.

Mr Shelby OBE is known as a racketeer in Birmingham city and rumoured to be a member of a backstreet razer gang known as the Peaky Blinders. A prolific gang operating out of the Small Heath area with a history of alleged beatings, stabbings, armed warfare, and drug trafficking, amongst other reported offences.

Rising to Sergeant Major during the Great War, Mr Shelby OBE was awarded various medals of honour including the Military Medal and the Distinguished Conduct Medal.

In 1924 various members of the Shelby family were arrested and set to hang at Winston Green Prison for a list of offences including the murder of a Chief Inspector Chester Campbell, a Father Hughes and various civilians. The offences also included sedition and conspiracy to cause explosion after an attack on a train resulted in the deaths of six railway workers. However, the suspects were released without charge when all witnesses were reported to have lost their memories.

Later that same year Mr Shelby was included in the Honours List and awarded an OBE by King George V.

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service.

Much to the dismay of residents at Artillery Square, who witnessed the carnage and reported Mr Shelby OBE as being responsible for the murders committed during the attack, was released from custody at the scene by Inspector Moss without charge or investigation.

Most residents are now calling for an inquiry into the inspector, who has been rising quickly through the ranks of Birmingham law enforcement in recent years.