Along with rivals Barrio 18, they have ensured that El Salvador is the worlds murder capital. Glasgow gangster Arthur Thompson, known as The Godfather, pictured with his wife Rita Thompson.Circa 1970. But since the death of his father and brother that reputation is no more. They could. [14], Thompson is survived by Tracey Thompson, his last remaining child. McPherson wrote: It was straight out of a Guy Ritchie movie and was full of cockney hardmen. He has since been jailed for involvement in a firearms conspiracy. She received three years in prison for the attack. Rita M. Glasgow Obituary. If you have a complaint about the editorial content which relates to His criminal career, however, was not quite over and his last brush with it, ironically, involved drugs. [5], His other son, Billy, was stabbed and seriously wounded 400 yards (350 metres) from the family home[8] in 2000, but survived. You can make a complaint by using the report this post link . Isgho Votre ducation notre priorit . Thompson in turn was accused of the culpable homicide of Goldie and Welsh. The Ponderosa was also rumoured to be fitted out with secret passages, hiding spots, and its own underground tunnel. Lanterns lit after tragic death of Lanarkshire girl, 5, seen from plane by her grief-stricken family. New Glasgow west end venue The Wendy Bar opens its doors on Byres Road. [7] Paul Ferris was charged with Arthur Thompson Jr's murder and tried in 1992 but was found not guilty and released. Copyright 2018 Global Image Works, LLC. The world's leading specialists in the distribution of art, cultural and historical images and footage for reproduction. Ferris only escaped a similar fate because he was on remand at Barlinnie Prison awaiting trial. He was friendly with another legendary London gangster too Mad Frankie Fraser. 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. Out of the darkness stepped a mystery man who opened fire before escaping in a stolen car with two other men. In May, veteran gangland boss Frank McPhee was shot through the head on his doorstep, as his 11-year-old son looked on in terror. 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. Even when his own son was murdered outside his own front door, he ordered his family not to give them statements. 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 today's money. For more than 30 years until his death in 1993 Thompson ruled Glasgows criminal underworld with an iron fist through his interests in extortion, money lending, illegal casinos, robbery, and drugs. READ MORE:The Glasgow crime story of the murder of Jackie Gallagher. Joe Jackson was with his older brother John when they saw Thompson, in his top-of-the-range Jaguar, force a van into a lamp post, killing the occupants, James Goldie and Patrick Welsh. Both men died, but Arthur escaped prosecution because no witness would testify against him. She received three years in prison for the attack. ', Tell-tale sign a coin is rare as expert urges Glaswegians to check change. 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. There were 6,656 official murders in the nation in 2015 and in 2016; there was a homicide every hour in the first few months of the year. Thompson himself had been known for punishing enemies or bad debtors by nailing their hands and feet to the floor crucifixion-style. Join Facebook to connect with Rita Thompson and others you may know. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. McPherson wrote: It was straight out of a Guy Ritchie movie and was full of cockney hardmen. We are lucky at The Herald. By now, his son Arthur Jr., also known as Fatboy, was in charge of the gang as Arthur Sr. took a backseat. Brothers Martin, George and Henry Welsh, 24, were charged with murdering Margaret and attempting to kill Arthur in the revenge attack. The 56-year-old had been reported missing on Sunday. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. Nadiya Tkachenko compitiendo en la prueba de lanzamiento de peso en el pentatln olmpico de 1980, donde gan la medalla de oro. As well as terrorizing people in the United States, MS-13 still has a heavy presence in El Salvador. HE was Glasgows equivalent of Don Corleone, the fictional New York crime godfather immortalised in his portrayal by Marlon Brando. 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. Police have run up against a wall of silence, but believe the murder is linked to drugs. The 37-year-old was found seriously injured on his doorstep on Tuesday. In dramatic scenes, Thompson and the Welshes both stood trial at the same time at the High Court in Glasgow. London, W2 4PH Fort Fairfield - Rita Jean Thompson, 78, wife of the late Berkley A. Thompson, passed away Thursday evening, February 9, 2023, at Madigan Estates, Houlton, following an extended illness. Joe, now 80, said: As far as I was concerned what my brother and I saw that night was murder. This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standards Organisation's This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standards Organisation's In 1985, he was arrested and charged with supplying heroin in what was probably a set-up; an 11-year prison sentence was the result. As a subscriber, you are shown 80% less display advertising when reading our articles. She was born September 4, 1944, in Fort Fairfield, the daughter of Stephen Jr. and Rita (Theriault) Murphy. We identified 2 records related to "Rita Thompson" in the state of Kentucky. In a bravura performance from the witness box, he denied he was Glasgows Godfather and criticised the police. If you are dissatisfied with the response provided you can [5] His other son, Billy, was stabbed and seriously wounded 400 yards (350 metres) from the family home [8] in 2000, but survived. Earlier this year, pitched battles broke out in Chinese restaurants between the Wo Sing Wo Triad and their rivals, the Tai Huen Chair or Big Circle Gang. A leading prosecution witness, in prison at the time, is provided with a constant police escort and kept in solitary confinement. 3 - The Thompson Gang . His death, coupled with the jailing of Paul Ferris on firearms charges in 1999, left a void which has generated a wave of violence. Search for birth, death, marriage, divorce, US Census, and military records. Pentatln femenino. Three years later, a car mounted the pavement outside his home and ran him over. Feedback | For webmasters |, COPYRIGHT 2006 Scottish Daily Record & Sunday. [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. Something went wrong, please try again later. The first bullet grazed his cheek, the second smashed into his ribs, a lung, the third, tore through his gut and pierced his heart. Which was only partly true because he hurt many nobodies. Arthur survived, but his mother-in-law was killed. Zoe Hagman and her daughter Ariana Catalano have opened Arredo on Shawlands' Kilmarnock Road to bring some flair to the street and also to the homes of local shoppers. MS-13 worked with Mexican drug cartels regularly and is becoming ever more active in the United States. They fought in the streets, they fought in the pubs and they made names for themselves - but it was amongst themselves. gemini and scorpio parents gabi wilson net worth 2021. rita thompson glasgow. They had each been shot in the back of the head, with an extra bullet fired up their anuses for good measure. The gangster was always the same dealing with the police. Another measure of his influence came after his son Arthur Thompson Jr was jailed for 11 years in 1985 for drug dealing. She had lived in the same house in Provanmill since Mr. Body of missing man Matthew Cosgrove discovered by police in Lanarkshire. They continue to terrorize Kenyans, and it has been suggested that they might be the worlds largest gang regarding membership. Rita Thompson, 72, who had throat cancer, died on Tuesday. A 22-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with the death of Neil Canney in Greenock. He was Glasgows equivalent of Don Corleone, the fictional New York crime boss immortalised by Marlon Brando in the classic Oscar-winning Godfather movie. There are 200+ professionals named "Rita Thompson", who use LinkedIn to exchange information, ideas, and opportunities. This site is part of Newsquest's audited local newspaper network. Overall, around 100 people died in the violence. While some American readers may know about MS-13 as they apparently operate in 42 states, the gang was relatively unknown outside of the Americas until recently. [10] On the day of Thompson Jr's funeral a car was found containing the bodies of two friends of Ferris, Robert Glover and Joe Hanlon, who were also suspected of involvement in his death and had been killed by gunshots to the back of the head and the anus. Like any other inmate, he regularly applied for parole and the previously secret documents reflected the view of the authorities had of him at the time. 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. 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. 'No one is going to say anything about him or the rest of the family.'. These adverts enable local businesses to get in front of their target audience the local community. Family and friends can send flowers and/or light a candle as a loving gesture for their loved one. How Rita Ora and Dua Lipa have mirrored each other over . Arthur suspected that two men from the rival Welsh clan, Patrick Welsh and James Goldie, had planted the bomb. He then walked the few yards from one court to another to give evidence in the Welshes murder trial. Bear in mind that the population of El Salvador is approximately 6.12 million. At eight he was nicking potatoes from shops and coal briquettes (blocks of compacted coal dust for younger readers) from coal lorries, which he then sold on. Two weeks later Joe learned of Thompsons plans to blow up both his and Johns homes in Glasgow. Thompson later gave a personal undertaking to a senior police officer that he would not harm the two officers. As a result the takeover never took place. Beatings and slashings were routinely inflicted on anyone who failed to pay up. 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. On one occasion, the then BBC broadcaster accompanied Thompson to an underworld pub in London. He added: "Thompson is the leader of the hardcore of thugs in Aberdeen prison. One detective on the case said: 'He had been a dead man walking for years. Its rumoured Thompson was present when Ronnie infamously shot George Cornell of the rival Richardson gang in Londons Blind Beggar pub in 1966. 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. Download Glasgow gangster Arthur Thompson with his wife Rita Thompson, c.1970 (b/w photo) from Bridgeman Images archive a library of millions of art, Thompsons name was enough to strike fear into anyone who crossed him. These adverts enable local businesses to get in front of their target audience the local community. 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. It was the end of an astonishing era. Thompsons name was enough to strike fear into anyone who crossed him. All planned teacher strikes have been suspended after a new pay offer was presented by the Scottish Government. The spot where Fat Boy died is just a few yards from where Billy Thompson was stabbed 10 months ago during the unsuccessful first attempt on his life and a short distance from the site of the most recent attack. They just pay someone a couple of grand to go and hurt people for them.. Spokeo's database, while extensive, does not contain all U.S. warrant, arrest, court, or other related records. Urgent reappeal to find missing Glasgow man as disappearance 'very out of character'. He might have observed the criminal code but never the marital one. 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. Again, Arthur survived and refused to make any statement to the police. The lack of a dominant godfather figure means rival factions are fighting to fill the power vacuum, and police fear the violence may escalate further. 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. Please note that only low-res files should be uploaded. The iconic firm was formed back in 1965. It was started in California when large groups of people from El Salvador fled the country during its civil war. He is said to run his empire from a luxury yacht. Arthur Thompson, Rita Thompson.Circa, Glasgow. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Uncover details about birth, marriage, and divorce. Editors' Code of Practice. It is with deep sorrow that we announce the death of Rita M. Glasgow of Galena, Illinois, who passed away on February 22, 2023, leaving to mourn family and friends. inaccuracy or intrusion, then please The gang is sometimes referred to as the Kenyan version of the Yakuza, Mafia or Cosa Nostra due to its organization. Privacy policy | Drag your file here or click Browse below. Nothing befitted his life like the leaving of it. The Godfather was able to use his prison contacts to have steaks, alcohol and chocolate delivered to him each day in his cell. You can make a complaint by using the report this post link . Had they lived both Hanlon and Glover would likely have stood trial alongside Ferris as alleged accomplices in Arthur Thompson Jnrs murder. 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. Others probably organised the double execution as a favour to him and out of respect. However, despite the murder of his son, the Godfather wasn't quite finished yet. "There is a real danger of him putting the screw on some of the locals in Aberdeen.". The authority's suspicions of Thompson were not unjustified. Additionally, Ora has shared photos with both Waititi and Thompson. Another underworld figure vying for control is a 65-year-old Scot, Billy Blackledge, who has been on the run from the FBI for 10 years for his involvement in a 10 million drugs deal involving Hell's Angels from Canada. View the profiles of people named Rita. Nine months later Thompson died in his bed from a heart attack. At an identification parade, he refused to identify the IRA suspect. Bridgeman Images Menu Log In Sign Up [4], On 18 August 1991 Thompson's son Arthur Jr (nicknamed "Fatboy") died after being shot three times[7] outside the family home,[8] "The Ponderosa". Old Arthur was less feared than before and apparently had a fondness for booze. However, Rita never sang a note. Glasgow's gangsters, Arthur Thompson - the Godfather, Glasgow bakery Mortons Rolls 'ceases all trading' in 'hammer blow' to city. In the early 1960s, Thompson became close allies of notorious London gangsters The Kray twins, Ronnie and Reggie so much so, they are reputed to have come up to Glasgow to seek his advice on a plan to take over The Beatles from their manager Brian Epstein. THE MOB'S REVENGE; 50TH BRITISH SOLDIER TO DIE SERVING IN IRAQ Troops ambushed after Islamic chief's arrest. Death of another youth triggers protests in Kashmir. 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. At one time, he had at least 20 pubs in Glasgow paying him 4000 each week. Although he was aging, Old Arthur was still seen as a threat, so his enemies wanted to remove him from the picture permanently. Norval's daughter, Rita Gunn, is charged with conspiring to damage the court but acquitted. He was seen as the rising star of the Glasgow underworld and a man who could take over from Arthur Snr. By 1966, Arthur Thompson was all-powerful in Glasgow. He graduated to forming protection rackets and like some other gangsters of the era, Arthur wisely invested his money in legitimate businesses and became an exceptionally wealthy man. But that was all in the past for Ferris as he savoured his dramatic acquittal on the High Court steps before a cheering crowd. On the eve of it the north court of the High Court in Glasgow is set on fire by Norval's mob in attempt to burn all the files on the case they believe are held in the vaults. Editors' Code of Practice. Glasgow veterinary hospital forced to close after fire reopens its doors. Glasgow's original Godfather: Walter Norval. Get the latest crime news direct to your inbox with the Glasgow Crime and Courts newsletter. On one occasion, the then BBC broadcaster accompanied Thompson to an underworld pub in London. Tony Thompson reports, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. 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. Readers comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. Newsquest Media Group Ltd, Loudwater Mill, Station Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. Rita, stabbed the wife of Patrick Welsh in the chest. Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours. Failure to pay him what you owed resulted in a painful punishment. It may be one of the few occasions when the law had got the better of him. AROUND a hundred mourners yesterday attended the funeral of gangster's wife Rita Thompson. HP10 9TY. Michael Beale will be looking for an immediate reaction from his side after suffering a first defeat in charge of the Light Blues in the League Cup Final defeat to Celtic. The wife of late Glasgow godfather Arthur Thompson, died last week aged 72 after a battle with throat cancer. At one time, he had at least 20 pubs in Glasgow paying him 4000 each week. Add up to 5 colours and slide the dividers to adjust the composition, Click for a quote that fits your requirements. Thompson signed into a private clinic in the West End of Glasgow and told police the injury was caused by a broken drill bit. We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments. Arthur also enjoyed hobnobbing with celebrities. 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. The jailing of Fat Boy brought challenges from gangs hoping to take over the Thompson empire. If you are dissatisfied with the response provided you can 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. 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. Norval's trial has a fiery hanselling. However, Thompson said the pairs reputation would damage the bands career. The 64-year-old woman was rushed to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital following the crash on Elmbank Street last month. While London had the Krays and the Richardsons to contend with in the 1960s, Glasgow had its own dominant group of street thugs in the form of The Thompson Gang. In later life he even adopted some of the late US mobster's sartorial taste in pinstripes. Arthur survived thebomb attack but his mother-in-lawMargaret Johnstone was killed outright. 74 members of the sect were arrested. His former business associate, Frankie Fraser, said Mrs Thompson was a "lovely lady". One of his main sources of income over the years was providing protection to pubs in the city. "His depravity is veneered with conformity and deadly quietness, and he is difficult to undermine when he is on the alert. . YASSER FEVER; TENS OF THOUSANDS MOB ARAFAT COFFIN. In 1966 he escaped death when a bomb exploded in his MG sports car, but his mother-in-law, in the passenger seat, was killed. The grim find was made by the pubs manager who was passing at the time on his way to open up. As a result, they were given a police guard and their families moved to safety. 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. [9] He was acquitted of all charges. A few days after the double murder, armed police raided his Ponderosa home looking for evidence but nothing was found. In time-honoured tradition, Thompson failed to speak out against the brothers and they were cleared of all charges. On the day of Fatboys funeral, the bodies of two of Ferris associates were found in a car. It was common for Arthur to crucify his victims by nailing their hands and feet to furniture. He recognised them immediately as they and Ferris were regulars. He certainly knew who was responsible but would not be sharing that information any time soon with the police. Shelter Scotland launch Glasgow Central Station pop up clothes shops. The Mungiki was banned in 2002 after its involvement in extreme violence in Kenyas capital, Nairobi. Glasgow crime stories: Arthur Thompson who ruled the city's underworld for more than 30 years. [6] Thompson was charged with murder but not prosecuted as the police could find no witnesses who would testify. View the profiles of professionals named "Rita Thompson" on LinkedIn. 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. Results for Rita have been distilled from over 6 billion consumer records found online and offline. His team, the Barlanark Gang, initially continued paying him a cut, but the two sides quickly fell out as the Gang found new paymasters. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself. Registered in England & Wales | 01676637 |. There was a time when Billy Thompson, youngest member of Glasgow's most infamous criminal clan, could rely on his family's reputation to protect him wherever he went. For more than 30 years until his death in 1993 Arthur Thompson ruled Glasgows criminal underworld with an iron fist through his interests in extortion, money lending, illegal casinos, robbery, and drugs. The presence or absence of records for any individual is not a guarantee of any kind. Glasgow's gangsters - Arthur Thompson, the Godfather, Killings of Patrick Welsh and James Goldie, "Fears gangland enforcer Ferris moving in on Capital cab trade", http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/861134.stm, https://web.archive.org/web/20051227034428/http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/s2.cfm?id=474552002, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Arthur_Thompson_(gangster)&oldid=1115792863, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2022, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 13 October 2022, at 06:54. Joe, now 80, said: As far as I was concerned what my brother and I saw that night was murder. 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"}]}}. Its rumoured Thompson was present when Ronnie infamously shot George Cornell of the rival Richardson gang in Londons Blind Beggar pub in 1966. He was buried in the family plot at Riddrie Cemetery beside Arthur Jnr and daughter, Margaret, who suffered a drugs overdose in 1989. Brothers Martin, George and Henry Welsh, 24, were charged with murdering Margaret and attempting to kill Arthur in the revenge attack. Three shots at close range from a .22 pistol hit young Arthur. Thompson signed into a private clinic in the West End of Glasgow and told police the injury was caused by a broken drill bit. Shortly afterwards, he spotted two men he suspected of the attack, Patrick Welsh and James Goldie, members of the rival Welsh family Blackhill gang. He died from a heart attack in 1993 aged 61. Glasgow comedian pokes fun at 'West End Mums' in hilarious Pet Shop Boys parody, Hilarious TikToker Zara has created a fantastic parody of Pet Shop Boys 80s classic 'West End Girls' taking aim at mums living in the west end of the city 'because being south's an anxiety trigger. inaccuracy or intrusion, then please Rita Thompson is on Facebook. He drove his Jaguar straight at the van, forcing it off the road and into a lamppost, killing Welsh and Goldie. [3] Protection rackets soon followed, and he was also involved in bank robberies and heists for a time. 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. The incident was part of a long feud between the two clans. He accused Paul Ferris, a former enforcer for the gang, of trying to kill him in 1988.

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