Career London criminal Jack the Hat Mcvitie sealed his
gangland notoriety on this day in 1967, not by committing another obscene crime
on behalf of the now legendary Kray firm, but by being stabbed repeatedly in
the face, chest and stomach by Reginald Kray in a brief, violent, pre-meditated
struggle that eventually led to his death.
McVitie's death hasn't entered gangland folklore because of The Hat's infamous background and personal downfall though, rather because
his bloody demise signalled the arrest and subsequent life imprisonment of both
Ronnie and Reggie Kray who both died fulfilling their sentences, the former in
1995 and the latter in 2000.
A member of the Krays' firm who carried out various hits and
organised crimes on the twins' behalf, the perma-Trilbied McVitie had been led
by underworld associates to a party in the now affable Stoke Newington area of
London, on Evering Road, to an alleged gathering attended by his so-called
"friends" and their families.
Prior to his arrival the Kray twins had cleared the party of
said revelers in anticipation of McVitie's arrival. Reggie had initially
planned to shoot McVitie but his gun jammed, his brother allegedly encouraging
him to finish the job with a knife. It is said his body was wrapped in an eiderdown
and dumped outside St Mary's church, then moved to Rotherhithe and eventually tossed off
a boat into the river at Newhaven by Freddie Foreman.
Heavily dependent on drugs at the time of his death, McVitie
had previously betrayed the Krays' trust and extorted money from the firm. This
is thought to be the primary reason for his execution.
Facts
• Martin and Gary Kemp played the Kray twins in the well-received biographical movie The Krays in 1990. McVitie was portrayed in a somewhat cowardly manner by the actor, Tom Bell.
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