Alfred Horspool was born in 1856 at Kempston, Bedfordshire, England, the son of William Horspool and Mary Ann Swales. He worked as a butler and footman but whilst employed in London he "fell in to bad company and took to betting " and was caught stealing in order to cover his debts. He was arrested and sentenced to six weeks and then 6 month's hard labour in 1892. 

The following article appeared in the Illustrated Police News on Saturday June 18, 1892

ROBBING MR. WHITELEY

At the London County Sessions, Alfred Horspool, thirty-six, was indicted for stealing six dressing-cases, several purses, and other articles, value £11, the property of Mr. William Whittley, Westbourne Grove. Prisoner had been a porter in the employ of the prosecutor, and it was impossible to say whether the articles had been stolen from parcels he should have carried out or from the shop itself. On April 13th he was summarily convicted at tbe Marylebone Police-court, and was sentenced to six weeks' imprisonment Other losses were then discovered, and on tbe prisoner's lodgings being searched several articles were found, as well as pawn-tickets relating to others, which were produced by Detective Sergeant Thompson. He was, therefore, at once re-arrested on his discharge from prison on the present charge. Mr. Hutton urged the previous good character of the prisoner, who had formerly been butler and footman in several families, including that of Mr. Hannay, the magistrate. Unfortunately, after he had been about twelve months in Mr. Whiteley's service he fell into bad company and took to betting. Six months' hard labour.

Matters did not improve after his release and he committed suicide in Kensington Gardens, London in 1894 at the age of 38.  

The following article appeared in The Tamworth Herald on Saturday 1st September 1894.