TERRORISED BY GANGS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 284, 30 November 1928, Page 8

TERRORISED BY GANGS.

CERTAIN AREAS IN SYDNEY GOVERNMENT ASKED TO ACT. NEW ZEALAND AS EXAMPLE. SYDNEY, November 23. It has long been a matter advocated by the Sydney Press that New South Wales should follow the example of New Zealand and introduce legislation, making it an offence punishable summarily by gaol for criminals and known undesirables to consort together. Many violent crimes, both recently and in the past, would have been avoided, undoubtedly, had this law been in operation here. For, on many occasions police have been certain that such crimes were committed by gangs who congregate in certain areas, and yet have been unable to obtain sufficient evidence to effect a conviction against them en a major charge. If they had been vested with the power to arrest them when they were together, obviously plotting their devilry, the crimes must certainly have been avoided. There have been numerous instances recently in Fydney which have been* brought under notice of the Government, illustrating how necessary that legislation is becoming, lest Sydney degenerate into the state in which Chicago and other cities of America find themselves to-day. One such which occurred this week will illustrate the position. A Mrs. Dunn,, who lives in Brisbane Street, Sydney, a quarter which is i. hunting ground for gangsters and undesirables, returned to her home on Tuesday night and found three strangers behind the bed. Several kit bags on the floor contained most of her portable valuables. Before she could cry out she was seized and savagely beaten by the thieves. In the struggle she managed to get free long enough to scream loudly for help, and a neighbour, Felix Benuloa, holder. of the Croix de Guerre, aud several other decorations, rushed into the place and flung himself on her assailants. They were too many for him, however, and soon beat him into insensibility. Both Benulos and Mrs. Dunn were attended to by medical men, and then taken to hospital. Police were on the scene soon afterwnrds, and with the aid of Mrs. Dunn, who was not seriously injured, managed to arrest two men she pointed out as having been concerned in the assault. These arrests were effected only after a terrific struggle, during which a policeman's linton was broken over the head of one of the suspects. It was discovered later in the night that after the attack on Benulos, the three men had gone directly to his home, broken into the place, and wrecked all of the furniture. This was obviously a reprisal for his interference. The case quoted is an instance of what occurs. Rarely, however, have the residents of those neighbourhoods sufficient temerity to call in the police, since they are assured that if they do the gangs will get even with them later, and perhaps maim, them for life. Razor slashings, brutal assaults and robberies, and numerous other crimes of a similar nature, are the work of these gangs, and on few occasions are police able to get anything definite from the injured persons to enable them to make a case. In a recent court case it was stated in evidence that a witness of one such assault was threatened that if he persisted in giving evidence he would be attacked and "dealt with." In fact, his home was attacked, and after that police had to be stationed there day and night, while he had to have a police escort to and from his work every day. It has been proved that the sang* are organised, their members <!o no work, and they are a menace to anv reputable citizen who may-walk through their territory even in daylight. The Government, fortunately, is con sidering the introduction of the required legislation, along the lines of that already in force in New Zealand.