Eric Mason - Why the Krays Killed Jack 'the Hat'!

Crime Figure Eric Mason tells the back story about why & how his friend Jack 'The Hat' was killed & the Krays & Lambrianou's part in it. Fascinating interview from a different angle on the killing. Interview Steve Wraith & Liam Galvin. Footage supplied by Liam Galvin & Yvette Rowland at www.unlicensedboxing.com

[@dougieroberts7045]

Never met Eric, but he comes across as honest, a rare virtue, he never talks about himself, he has no ego, I like the bloke.

[@annlonsdale9396]

my x husband was harry the hatchett lonsdale had no idea either his mim abd dad were pissed all the yone she thought her husband was the rich one she was beautifil too looked like jane wyman omg loved old black soul music louis armstong wonderful world my ass bless her

[@stevendone5493]

I have met Eric and he’s a lovely fella . Been a hard man in his day but not big headed and just a very easy going fella and if you show him respect you will get it back . Top man

[@Ironz89]

His dead now

[@JW-cq5vo]

Great clip Liam, really enjoy your videos. keep em coming!

[@LiamGalvinFilm]

Cheers mate - thanks for watching

[@davidfelix2594]

A real shame about all the voices in the background, can barely make out what Eric is saying, Would like to say RIP to his son Michael who i spoke to on several occasions, he died way too young, really nice bloke Michael was.

[@stickykitty]

I feel sorry for the jacks kid Nice of Mr Mason to tell the lad that his dad was a good and proper mans man

[@JohnSmith-su3ze]

I love how the background chatter makes it so much easier to hear what Eric is saying

[@bruno-pierregirard5220]

can u add more surrounding noise please

[@n136h]

Bruno-Pierre Girard lol

[@addigi5598]

😂 😂 😂

[@iscreemz4494]

LOL

[@justcallfrank0089]

Just be thankful steve wraith has not done it

[@joepeterson2819]

Yeah wheres the mic? In the tap room?

[@GVGames1986]

Sounds like they killed him over nothing.

[@ninjabluewings]

Goodness me this man seems really friendly, placid and easy going, I cannot even imagine him being the type that could punch holes through you

[@dave8204]

He wasn't,your first impression of him is the real one. Very nice guy according to someone I know who knew him....and full of tall tales.

[@terra2805]

@@dave8204 The only one talking tall tales here is you. So you know because you heard it from a man who knows a man who knows a man.....fuck off muppet.

[@dave8204]

@@terra2805 Heard it from my Dad actually,who used to drink with him and knew him very well. Thanks for your considered and intelligent reply. I won't resort to abuse as you have,I have more self-respect and intelligence than that.

[@RicTic66]

Fucking hard work listening to that, and I still ain't non the wiser 😆

[@JohnSmith-su3ze]

I could barely hear a fucking word of it!

[@Sameoldfitup]

"Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you. The process of delving into the black abyss is to me the keenest form of fascination."

[@fitzjon4628]

Spot on

[@craigdow6038]

So WHY did they kill him then? This made little sense.

[@danw1374]

The story as I know it is after ronnie shot dead cornell in the blind beggar pub he was egging on reggie to kill somebody as well in a sort of "Ive done mine now its your turn" It was done merely to assert their authority, nothing more.

[@user-mw9ug4gy2m]

Met Eric many years ago in Spain. What a lovely gentleman.

[@terryspencer7697]

When he said to cut a long story short was he taking the piss?

[@normanjones9134]

terry spencer yy

[@stecumo6459]

just a big spandau ballet fan

[@mickharrison9004]

There are no short story's here, you should know that, and to be fair it was only 6 fkn minutes.

[@mickharrison9004]

There are no short story's here, you should know that, and to be fair it was only 6 fkn minutes.

[@steveclemons8373]

@Sean Dennis who did ??

[@franreilly7139]

He is in a lot of interviews on KZbin i like him if you look back when he was in his 60s he added on to story's not everything is true what he is saying just look up and see what you think of his other interviews also rest in peace 👍

[@truckerfromreno]

I served time with Eric. A lovely, lovely man. Good as gold.

[@Buckblacket]

were you serving time for crimes against music?

[@j0nnyism]

Bobby Crush my uncle knew eric he said you couldnt find a better friend or worse enemy. Very modest shy and quite unassuming but a gentleman to those that desrved it and a monster to those that deserved that.

[@burnleyfan11965]

My mate did time with Eric in HMP Kirkham years ago.Said same as you really nice man

[@ninjabluewings]

Yes you can tell he was a really nice man, he seems a true salt of the earth guy and I gotta say it's so difficult to think how tasty he was as young man when you see how placid he is here

[@gowdsake7103]

Your fucking insane !

[@gutz323]

horrible to see the onset of old age. you can see he can remember things that happened years ago like it was yesterday, but he can't remember what he told you 10 seconds ago. poor old boy! R.I.P

[@haroldkreye8770]

Please include subtitles.

[@daviddickinson7310]

Met Eric in the Blind Beggar in 1995 True Gent RIP Eric

[@hamisharmstrong6583]

ns eric.a good man down.r.i.p

[@terra2805]

I've heard quite a few reputable guys from this era now say that Jack the hat McVitie was actually a good guy and could handle anyone in a 1v1. It was proper pussy shit the way they took him out and for no good reason. Eric Mason could handle himself too from what I know but these are old skool 1 on 1 straightener kind of guys that are dying out fast now. Sad. Most of them were gentleman and didn't like liberty takers. We could do with this breed making a comeback the way the streets are now.

[@jimmorrison2657]

Don't be a prick, mate. How do you think these cunts made their money? Protection rackets. If you owned a business within their territory, you wouldn't want them back on the streets.

[@anthonyperry7296]

A gentleman who carried himself with dignity.

[@gowdsake7103]

A fucking THUG !

[@justcallfrank0089]

@@gowdsake7103 are not another one. Who the fuck are you. It's just a bit of nostalgia that's all

[@justcallfrank0089]

Why the fuck do you follow ksi

[@Waynegreenandco]

Is eric still alive ? WE need more interviews with these men of old

[@papanoel3999]

I used to go out with a girl who worked in the pub that was owned by Jimmy lambriano in Boscombe Dorset. Nice bloke I talked to him many times.

[@judymcgaugh6480]

It was hard to hear with all the bar background noise. I probably missed the best part of the interview... wish there was closed caption on this Mate!!! It was probably a good one..

[@LiamGalvinFilm]

Didn't pick the venue on this - a noisy pub & Eric speaks softly - asked him to speak up & everyone to be quiet but a lot of drinking going on!

[@gboss5119]

Listening to this guy talk is like watching paint dry with peter ebdon

[@hanorabrennan8846]

@@dachronicalalittlebitofeve6630 Very well said. Admire your loyalty. Detest G Boss's ignorance. Trolls be trollin'.

[@preciousdevere288]

Love your videos Liam

[@LiamGalvinFilm]

Really appreciate that - thanks a lot - all the best to you

[@preciousdevere288]

No worries x

[@jackierobinson5766]

Precious DeVere is Eric mason still around?

[@lucytupper69]

Silly place to hold an interview! Would liked to have heard what this man was saying!

[@LiamGalvinFilm]

Totally agree - not my choice either! Eric speaks softly too!

[@mickharrison9004]

From what I've heard, in a strange way cos Ron was an Iron he shouldn't of cared, but I think the krays were jealous of Jack's womanising and happy go lucky ways.

[@h8nl839]

nah not the reason

[@nadiajamesroper4947]

Ive read the twins had payed Jack to kill Leslie Payne, Jack knocked Leslie home his wife answered so Jack left without killing anyone , but still took the twins money , Leslie realising what was going on then spoke with nipper read and stated to give evidence to the police , this then enraged the twins which led to the killing of Jack , but Leslie had said he wasn't even thinking of giving evidence untill the krays had paid Jack to kill him., so they kind of was detrimental to their own come down , taking pills and getting paranoid, think the timing of it all was partly to blame also , nipper read also said basically the same reason for the Mitchell killing, was he was taken out of prison to kill nipper read , but Frank Mitchell then became to much to handle for the twins , demanding he wanted to leave the flat and the twins had men to keep him in, and he had made a few comments of he would go around their mums house if ronnie kept ignoring him , they took it as a threat and had him killed. ironic really they sprung him.from prison to keep him in another prison, fearing he would escape and land them all in prison same with Jack killed him for not doing what they asked which they later landed a minimum sentence for 30 years each . Not for the killing of Frank but still ironic

[@tonyobadinage6647]

Too much background noise :(

[@guesswho2999]

Background noise spoils video, turned off after two minutes, could not hear what he was saying

[@LiamGalvinFilm]

Yeh difficult - couldn't get the pub regulars to quieten down - they weren't the type you could get to shut up - cheers

[@hanorabrennan8846]

@@LiamGalvinFilm Could have had the interview elsewhere perhaps?

[@LiamGalvinFilm]

@@hanorabrennan8846 Absolutely - interview wasn't arranged by me - I was just asked to turn up and film - not a good place to film in a working pub - cheers

[@felixfox5806]

Blessed are they who know the lord your God

[@iscreemz4494]

Please stop....

[@felixfox5806]

@@iscreemz4494 haven't started vet get ready my beautiful friend

[@russellking9762]

In a previous interview he said “The Krays to his knowledge never killed anyone” ??

[@pouriksmith4322]

Background noise spoilt it ...couldnt hardly hear a thing

[@Martyfartini]

Funny, every individual involved has a different story on this. Can only be one truth.

[@CAVERN1234]

He said he met Jack the hats son, Tony the gloves .

[@SuperMoreRon]

Phillip the trousers

[@steboy2142]

Terry the sock

[@version736ha2]

Tony the Y Fronts

[@arisavvides1970]

Don't forget Johnny the string vest.

[@patsyparisi2620]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@TheSchmed]

Francis…. Francis…. Jab jab jab jab jab. Tom Hardy did a great job portraying Reg and Ron.

[@tzmvillage1370]

Can't hear him

[@johnmicallef2627]

On a much earlier video he talks that after having helped the hat the hat ignored him in Manchester and went with Richardson wich meant that Mason would never be hes friend again. Ho or amongst thieves😅😇😇😇

[@mcvicarross7]

M8 I think u may have bn thinking about John Mcvicar with that meeting with Eddie Richardson. Eric Mason had apparently helped John Mcvicar after he had escaped & if that story is accurate then he'd av had every right 2 feel hard done by with Mcvicar ignoring him after helping at the time with him being 'Britain's most wanted man!'

[@rickmerchant1835]

You can tell mason was a good man at heart, And obviously it's very sad about what happened to jack the hat RIP.

[@josephcroft4268]

too much background noise it needs sub titles

[@josephfinnigan2180]

camera man got so bored with that story he started zooming up his nostril

[@nadiajamesroper4947]

🤣

[@cyrilsmith5706]

RIP

[@jonball1779]

Jack liked getting on it didn’t deserve to die

[@ponyboycurtis3795]

One of "the other two" was defo Ronnie Bender and Tony Lambrianou and the others were bang out of order all jumping all over Jack that night like wild dogs stabbing him up and smashing glasses and bottles all over him.. Bad news and no need for it as Jack was one of the chaps and a man's man

[@siobhanlewis2706]

Can hardly hear a bloody word.

[@anthonyperry7296]

Jack the Hat was blamed for the twins addiction to purple hearts and sugar coated decs. Jack supplied the twins with pills.

[@daveglynn748]

What are sugar coated decs? If you mean Dexadrine why were they sugar coated? Curious.

[@mickharrison9004]

He didn't hold a gun to there heads to take em though, piss poor excuse if true.

[@thebeast2746]

Dave Glynn Yes

[@JohnSmith-su3ze]

@@thebeast2746 Why were they sugar coated?

[@TheSchmed]

These days, they could get all the methamphetamines they want, legally via an Rx for Adult ADD or OCD.

[@elpatronescobar2510]

Hmm what a raconteur

[@mauricehammond2062]

why did he kill him

[@davidstopps6322]

Worst interview I have ever seen trying to listen to this in a club complete waste

[@boli4203]

Sorry, mate, but I'm American and with a bar full of noisy people it's near impossible to sort out the accent let alone the meaning of anything he said here... The few words that make it through aren't enough to make sense of the rest.

[@gracegoodwin344]

all old Jack the Lads

[@gertyfumbledonk6452]

Fix the sound

[@LiamGalvinFilm]

I didn't pick the venue - noisy pub full of punters & Eric Speaks softly!

[@burants89]

Dignified fella

[@andrewjohnston7386]

Good man this 👏

[@robertscott4007]

What the hell is he saying can’t understand a word of it DON’T DO DRUGS it fucks your head up like this guy only heard what happened second hand blah blah another has been criminal trying to look harder than he was

[@paulcharles4485]

He sound like he jus about rmember is own name..some 1 wnts to iron out ur best mate..n all u say ..'nah..hes alright

[@cameronbrown9080]

Legend

[@patricksullivan7854]

Farm animals that talk.

[@SuperMoreRon]

I'm fucking lost.

[@daveh9203]

I thought Jack the Hat was a wife beater............not sure how true this is but if true, he wasn't a proper man

[@vordman]

Wife beating was commonplace back then.

[@terencethomas7599]

He was supposed to have thrown a woman out of a car and crippled her........ But then I heard this was false....... So what's the truth on him.

[@Shauno944]

Easy to hear what hes saying open your bloody lugholes

[@paulkelly5788]

this guy makes no sense at all.

[@hamisharmstrong6583]

is ackny next to arrods?i know u ear me

[@davebayliss3142]

Krays were horrible 7apists

[@davepriem1890]

Speak up mate

[@rolandbarthelat3428]

Sorry but what's the point to open your mouth 35 years later...?!?! he's just one more wannabee....There's too many people claiming to have been there, knowing this and that,but they never opened their mouths. . don't pretend being a hard man or a gangster when your good friend gets killed and you don't move..

[@bishboshbishbosh7943]

Krays got kicked out of Leicester, came up and tried it on, fukin shirt lifters 😎

[@nathandurant2825]

Wtf

[@samiblank6761]

What the fuck is he on about

[@richiestrich8079]

Grass

[@robertscott2702]

What’s wrong with this guys speech and do these has bee s slag the krays now their dead it makes them look sad and pathetic

[@rrichardloring6717]

When u interview people get em away from big mouths next to a bar...it ruins it..not very professional mate...not at all...5 mins prep...

[@LiamGalvinFilm]

Maybe you haven't done a lot of interviewing crime figures...you don't dictate the positioning or suggest their mates be quiet...you can have a word but whether they take any notice is another thing. This wasn't my shoot - I turned up - I was helping a mate - everyone was half cut & Eric Mason speaks softly. Lenny Hamilton & Billy Frost were at the bar with other Chaps. There was no side room, it was in a pub full of punters so they were doing my mate a favour so 5 mins prep doesn't cut it in those situations - you get what you get - thanks for watching

[@rrichardloring6717]

@@LiamGalvinFilm OK thanx for answering...I understand...Didnt realise they were together..Thought it strangers nearby showing off with camera nearby...Sorry my mistake...

[@rrichardloring6717]

@@LiamGalvinFilm I haven't watched any b4 . Gangster type ..Tell me i saw one with a fella called Dave Courtney...is he real or is it a piss take like Spinal tap...Camelot council Castle n.all the rest..Me and my Mrs couldn't work it out .is it a parody or just a slightly strange set up...Paintings on house of him with a knights armour on etc..Have you seen it..If not its worth a look...funny...OK thank you...Bet your job is fascinating....

[@Khaos969]

can't stand a word he's saying

[@katoness]

You got a touch of Alzheimer's there, me old china!!

[@dachronicalalittlebitofeve6630]

katoness it’s called brain damage, tends to happen after someone sticks an axe in your skull, show some respect

[@davidowenwinter3111]

Load of crap him saying Reggie hated tony lambrianou!

[@darrenbrogan5328]

Reggie says it in his book that there grasses

[@awgazzm]

was once down the mile end road in a pub having a great time all of a sudden the landlady got nervous cleared us off the table promptly cleaned it down and ushered us away in walked four very old geezers the whole pub was in awe of them we from up north didnt give a fuck i got into conversation with these old blokes taking the piss which went above their heads the never got it all they said was what ya dot ere why ya ere etc etc they didnt like it when i said its got fuck all to do with you obviusley they were ex villains but far too old to bother me

[@tavernalldayers8926]

Eric the GRASS

[@TonyAlexander2024]

Embarrassing comment

[@richardloring7545]

Speak up sunshine

[@nyttag7830]

Funny how the so called hard men are always sobbing over something 😆