Jack the Hat, whose real name was John McVitie, was a British drug dealer and thief, who met his end in London, stabbed by the infamous Kray brothers, notorious criminals of the 1950s and 1960s.
Eventually convicted for McVitie’s murder, Ronald and Reginald Kray put a decisive end to their longstanding criminal careers.
Born on March 24, 1933, in the East End of London, the Kray twins were primarily raised by their mother, and they were known to be inseparable throughout their childhood and much of their adult lives.
Initially, they pursued careers as professional boxers before veering into racketeering, robbery, and various other illegal enterprises. They established a gang known as “The Firm,” which grew into a significant power within London’s criminal landscape. Due to their fearsome reputation for violence and intimidation, the twins were largely able to silence witnesses regarding their unlawful activities.
In the late 1950s, Ronnie, the more aggressive and controlling of the pair, was imprisoned for several years, during which he was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. During this time, the twins expanded their influence by acquiring a number of lucrative gambling parlors and nightclubs, becoming prominent figures associated with London’s “Swinging ’60s,” rubbing shoulders with celebrities like Frank Sinatra and Judy Garland. In the mid-60s, Ronnie stirred media interest with rumors of a homosexual affair with British politician, Lord Boothby.
On October 29, 1967, “Jack the Hat” McVitie was deceived into attending a party where he was murdered
by Reggie Kray due to his failure to fulfill a murder contract for which the brothers had already compensated him. McVitie’s remains were subsequently relocated and were never discovered. By May 1968, Scotland Yard had gathered sufficient evidence for the arrest of the Kray brothers, effectively dismantling their criminal empire. The following March, the twins were found guilty of McVitie’s murder. Additionally, Ronnie was convicted for the murder of another individual, George Cornell, committed at the Blind Beggar pub in the East End, witnessed by many. The brothers received life sentences, necessitating a minimum of 30 years in prison. In connection to these murders, their elder brother Charlie also faced a 10-year sentence as an accomplice. Despite the perceived severity of their sentences for the era, multiple unsuccessful petitions were filed over the years to reduce their prison terms.
While incarcerated, the Krays’ story was adaptively retold in a 1990 film featuring brothers Martin and Gary Kemp from the band Spandau Ballet, a portrayal considered respectable, especially given the band’s reputation.
While imprisoned, Ronnie remarried and divorced twice. He passed away from a heart attack at Broadmoor, a British psychiatric facility, on March 17, 1995. Reggie, diagnosed with inoperable bladder cancer, was released from prison in August 2000 and passed away on October 1, 2000; he was laid to rest beside Ronnie.
Both Krays’ funerals drew thousands of attendees who came to pay their respects.
