Joseph Leslie Theodore "Squizzy" Taylor (29 June 1888 – 27 October 1927) was a Melbourne, Australia-based gangster. He rose to notoriety by leading a violent gang war against a rival criminal faction in 1919, absconding from bail and successfully hiding from the police for over a year in 1921–22, and the Glenferrie robbery in which a bank manager was murdered in 1923.
Leslie 'Squizzy' Taylor enjoyed a fearsome reputation in 1920s Melbourne. His crimes ranged from pick pocketing, assault and shop breaking to armed robbery and murder. He also derived income from sly-grog selling, two-up schools, illegal bookmaking, extortion, prostitution and, in his later years, is believed by some to have moved into cocaine dealing.
Although only a diminutive 5 ft 2in (156 cm) tall, Taylor made up what he lacked in stature with dark piercing eyes, a sharp tongue and a treacherous mind. Taylor delighted in surrounding himself with an air of mystery and cleverness as well as always looking for opportunities to impress other members of the underworld. To satisfy his vanity, he wrote letters to the media whilst in hiding from the police for 14 months, and co-starred with his girlfriend in a film, Riding to Win, which was banned by the Victorian censor. He was even prepared to take the credit for other people's violent crimes to make himself appear to be a dangerous criminal always ready to use his gun.
Read more about Squizzy Taylor's life here:
http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/taylor-joseph-leslie-squizzy-8762
Squizzy “Leslie” Taylor in a police mugshot.
Image taken from Squizzy Taylor in police mugshot 1920. (2016). [image] Available at: http://resources2.news.com.au/images/2014/06/10/1226949/677154-496b66ba-f068-11e3-94a8-09c2117d0a9e.jpg [Accessed 9 Jul. 2016].
Squizzy appeared many times in court and was found not guilty for crimes from robbery to theft and loitering with intent to commit a felony. You can check out all of these criminal trial briefs and petty sessions registers available for ordering and viewing at Public Record Office Victoria.
Visit http://prov.vic.gov.au/ research to start your research.
VPRS 515/P0, Central Register of Male Prisoner, Unit 60, Folio 43
At the age of 16, he was arrested for insulting behaviour. Although discharged without conviction, this would not be the last time he would meet with the authorities.
VPRS 1931 P0 Unit 14 Page 158 – Petty Sessions Register
In 1906, he was given his first criminal conviction at the age of 17 for theft. 
VPRS 1931 P0 Unit 15 Page 29 – Petty Sessions Register
SPECIAL REPORT: MELBOURNE'S underworld king Leslie "Squizzy" Taylor was brought down in the same brutal way he conducted business.
by SQUIRREL MAIN HERALD SUN JULY 02, 2013
Newspaper article describing the events at a house in Carlton, where Squizzy Taylor and John 'Snowy' Cutmore had a shoot-out.
http://ergo.slv.vic.gov.au/node/964
The Sun News Pictorial, 28 October 1927, p3.
Courtesy of The Herald & Weekly Times Ltd.
From the State Library of Victoria's Newspapers Collection.
Image from Wikipedia accessed July 2018
Little Lonsdale Street: While Taylor was in Melbourne Gaol, his girlfriend Dolly Gray (she was 30, he was 19) supported herself by operating a venue from her house in Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne.
Cnr Exhibition and Bourke Street: Eastern Market: A notorious location where the murders occurred in 1889 and 1921 (Gun Alley) and where the mysterious Madam Ghurka told fortunes, analysed your head shape and sold clothes and cosmetics. Squizzy was rumoured to stand over traders at the market. Squizzy Taylor’s gang clashed with other ‘pushes’ such as the Crutchies, the Flying Angels and the Bouveries in its crowded Arcades.
39 Collins Street: In June 1918, Kilpatrick & Co: The fashionable Jeweller was robbed, triggering the Fitzroy Vendetta. A carefully planned and audacious robbery of £1,435 worth of diamond rings.
540 King Street, Melbourne: In June 1921 Taylor’s luck ran out when was caught red-handed one night in A W Scales Bond Store. He was committed to stand trial for breaking and entering and released on bail of £600. However, when Taylor’s trial date arrived, he disappeared. For more than a year the police searched for Taylor without success. He was eventually acquitted as the jury ‘couldn’t make up its mind’.
Little Collins Street: In 1922 a violent confrontation between gang heavies Stokes and Slater ended in Slater’s admission to hospital with five bullet wounds and Stokes under arrest for attempted murder. Stokes claimed he shot Slater in self-defence and when tried was found not guilty.
St Kilda Road: In May 1924, in a hit and run, Squizzy ran down and killed Daphne Alcorn who was alighting from a tram. He lied about his whereabouts successfully.
336 Russell Street: Squizzy publicly surrendered to Police HQ in 1922 in front of a crowd and reporters after a year of hiding.
Melbourne Magistrates' Court, Russell Street: In February 1924 charged with assisting the escape from Pentridge of Angus Murray.
Tuscan Bar 79 Bourke Street: Ida ‘Jazz Baby’ Pender and her new husband ran the Mickey Powell Dance School Dancing School from here after the murder of ‘Babe’s’ husband Squizzy.
377 Russell Street, Old Melbourne Gaol: Angus Murray, Taylor’s accomplice in the Berriman killing was hanged in 1924.
Melbourne Magistrates' Court, Russell Street: When two of their members were arrested and faced trial over robbery, the Fitzroy gang became suspicious that someone from Richmond had tipped off the police and suspicions were raised further when Stokes, a member of the Richmond gang, gave evidence for the prosecution in exchange for the police withdrawing charges against him. The two men were found not guilty, but that was not the end of the matter. Outside court after the trial, angry words above were exchanged by the opposing factions and both Stokes and Taylor were struck by punches.
Flinders Street: In 1921 posters for the arrest of Taylor and Pender were circulated to all police stations across Victoria. Pender was arrested by police in July 1922 after she was spotted window shopping in Flinders Street, Melbourne. Flinders Street: Hatters Shop, Flinders St Station: Bullet hole in window. Claims that Squizzy fired from Young and Jackson.
Flinders Street: Young and Jackson: Witness claims he was run over by horse and cab.
Victoria Parade: Trades Hall, Victoria Street: Taylor accused of involvement in murder of a policeman due to a failed burglary.
186 Bourke Street: Cnr Russell and Bourke: In 1921 Joseph Lennox Cotter shot Squizzy in the leg in the crowded street as he was entering the Bookmakers.
Waratah Lane, Chinatown: Notorious for gambling rooms.
189 Lonsdale Street: In 1929, a former Squizzy gambling venue was blown up at number 189.
St Vincent’s Hospital: On 27 October 1927 an automatic pistol was found in Taylor’s pocket after he arrived at St Vincent’s hospital and two other pistols were discovered in the vicinity of Cutmore’s house, one was hidden in the cistern of a toilet in the backyard and the other was found in a right-of-way some distance away. Squizzy was treated after Bourke Street shooting.
Melbourne Hospital: 15 Oct 1919. Three shooting victims were treated. Squizzy charged and acquitted. 20 Oct 1927 Bridget Cutmore was treated and interviewed.
403 George Street: Home of Arthur trotter murdered by Squizzy Taylor in a robbery in 1913 by Bush Thompson.
31 Fleet Street: Squizzy seen running from house after 3 people shot in the Fitzroy Vendetta, 1919.
Corrs Lane: ‘Guardian’ newspaper office of the Communist Party (Berlin Bar) where Frank Hardy type-set Power and Glory depicting Squizzy Taylor as character Snoopy Tanner who committed the murder of a constable at Trades Hall.
Gertrude and Brunswick Street, Fitzroy: ‘The Narrows’ – Centre of Fitzroy gang, today Housing Commission.
Taken from Walking Tours of Melbourne. (2005). Squizzy Taylor Tour. [online] Available at: http://melbournewalks.com.au/squizzy-taylor-tour-cbd-2/ [Accessed 9 Jul. 2016].
Leslie 'Squizzy' Taylor's crime spree really began with the arrest for the murder of the taxi driver William Haines in 1916.
VPRS 30 P0 Unit 1764 Item 179 – Criminal Trial Brief
It looked as though Squizzy’s luck may have just about run out when he was caught red handed in the Scales Warehouse Fine Furs. He was charged with burglary and committed to stand trial however when his trial date arrived, he failed to appear at court and the bail money was forfeited. Squizzy spent the next 14 months on the run.
VPRS 30/P0 Unit 1985 File 517 of 1922 - Criminal Trial Brief
This guide was prepared by Salam Caldis and Sue Patterson of Marymede College in Melbourne. Recreated here with permission and gratitude by Angus Pearson 2018.