'40 Elephants': The Story of London's Most Daring and Enduring Female Gang
Categories: Europe
By Pictolic https://pictolic.com/article/3940-elephants39-the-story-of-london39s-most-daring-and-enduring-female-gang.htmlIn the 19th century, the capital of Britain was flooded with criminal gangs. London was divided into zones of influence, which were controlled by well-organized ethnic gangs and simply gangs of hungry thugs. Among them all, a gang with the strange name "40 Elephants" stood out. And it's not even about the name, but the fact that it consisted exclusively of women.
This was the colonial heyday of the British Empire. In the 1840s, China lost the Opium War, forcing it to open its ports to trade, and Hong Kong came under British control. In the 1850s, the conquest of India was completed, and 20 years later, Afghanistan was subjugated to a British protectorate after a second attempt. Colonies in Africa and America continued to bring income to the treasury and to big businessmen.
London grew rapidly and became the world capital, where incredible luxury coexisted with equally fantastic poverty. And where the gap between wealth and poverty becomes too deep, there are always plenty of daredevils ready to demand their share.
The 40 Elephants, a female gang, first appeared in police reports in the 1870s. The exact origin of their name is unknown, but it is believed to be linked to Elephant and Castle Square, an area in south-east Old London that was considered one of the most crime-ridden areas in the city.
The exact number of gang members remained unknown, but all of its members were incredibly determined. The group was involved in robberies and thefts, with several dozen women sent out for major cases. They were all excellent with firearms and bladed weapons, and many could compete in hand-to-hand combat with men.
As in any criminal community, the gang members had their own specializations. The most numerous group was the shoplifters. These women, dressed as respectably as possible, went into expensive women's stores. Each of them had fitting rooms where the customers could have privacy.
The thieves would take a pile of things, some of which they would cleverly stuff into secret pockets of voluminous Victorian skirts and wide coats. They would steal shoes, hats, dresses, blouses, stockings, but they would do it so skillfully that they would almost never get caught. Well-dressed ladies would simply leave the fitting room, throw the unsuitable items on the counter, and sometimes even make a purchase for the sake of appearances.
The theft was discovered only later, when the thieves had already fled. This scheme was quite common and, despite its notoriety, remained safe. Combating such thefts was difficult: searching respectable shoppers on the way out was risky - it could scare off customers and even lead to lawsuits.
Other "elephants" operated in jewelry stores. A well-dressed girl would approach the counter and discreetly attach a piece of viscous resin, and later chewing gum, underneath it. Then the customer would ask the seller to show her rings or earrings. The thief would deftly glue one of the pieces of jewelry to the resin and calmly leave.
Sometimes the girl would be accused of stealing and detained at the exit. She would feign insulted virtue and allow herself to be searched, and of course nothing suspicious would be found. The shop assistants would have to apologize and let her go. After a while, another woman would come into the store and quietly take the loot from the hiding place under the counter.
The ladies of 40 Elephants were always on the lookout for new opportunities. With the advent of automobiles, they quickly began using them for theft and robbery. The criminals would enter a jewelry store in a group, distract attention, and steal jewelry. They would hand the loot to an inconspicuous accomplice, and then run out into the street, get into a car, and quickly drive away.
They were often subjected to real police chases. Having caught up with the female drivers, the police found nothing on them. Meanwhile, their accomplice with the stolen goods calmly left the store. The gang had other, no less inventive methods of theft, the arsenal of which was constantly updated.
The members of the 40 Elephants gang had a strict rule: never use stolen items. It was considered too risky and could endanger the entire group. The loot was immediately handed over to the fences, and with the money the ladies could treat themselves to new clothes, acquired quite legally.
Fraudsters were considered a special, privileged caste in the gang. These women, using forged documents and "fake" letters of recommendation, got jobs in rich houses as governesses and maids. After a while, the owners discovered with annoyance that family jewels or silverware had disappeared.
Even more complex and risky were the schemes of marriage swindlers. These women met wealthy men, gained their trust and then robbed them. Some even got married to gain full access to their husband's money. Such a business required from them not only determination and ingenuity, but also outstanding acting talent.
The 40 Elephants gang was at its peak in the early 20th century. In 1916, it was led by 20-year-old Alice Diamond. Despite her young age, she was one of the most experienced and ruthless criminals in the London slums. Alice specialized in armed robberies and earned the nicknames "Diamond Annie" and "Amazon Killer".
The first nickname, "Diamond Annie," Alice received from the newspapers for her passion for jewelry, and the second, "Amazon Killer," for her habit of starting shooting at the slightest provocation. Her fingers were covered in diamond rings, which she used as brass knuckles in fights. Alice Diamond was tall, quite attractive, and could act like a true lady. Sometimes she simply flirted with a store clerk while her accomplices stole things.
Alice Diamond established strict rules in the gang. One of them strictly prohibited drinking alcohol before any business. Another obliged the gang members to help each other, providing an alibi in case of danger. The power of "Diamond Annie" extended even to the personal lives of subordinates. Before starting an affair, each of them had to get the approval of the leader.
It is worth mentioning that the last rule once let Alice Diamond down badly. One of the gang members, Marie Brittain, secretly got married without asking permission. The "queen" of the bandits showed up at the newlyweds' home with several assistants and beat up her husband in front of Marie. After this attack, Alice and her "right hand" Maggie Hill were arrested by the police. Alice was reminded of her past crimes, and she ended up behind bars for a long time.
Alice Diamond's place was taken by another determined lady - Lillian Rose Kendall. Alice, having been freed, decided to retire and became a mentor and consultant to young bandits. With the new leader, the gang gradually began to weaken, and disagreements and fights arose more and more often among its members.
And the times were already completely different. In the 1930s, alarms and panic buttons were installed in shops and banks, and the police became much more organized and technically equipped. Despite this, the "40 Elephants" gang existed until 1952. It is believed that it broke up after the death of Alice Diamond, who was the keeper of the group's traditions. But there is also an opinion that the "elephants" group existed until 1992.
The story of the 40 Elephants gang is striking in its uniqueness and shows how women, despite stereotypes, found a place for themselves even in such a cruel world as criminal London. What do you think contributed more to their success: their organization, the social conditions of that time, or their underestimation by society? Share your opinion in the comments!
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