DANGEROUS MEN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 42, 20 February 1933, Page 7

DANGEROUS MEN.

SYDNEY CRIMINALS. JUDGE'S UNUSUAL COURSE. BXTKA SENTENCE IMPOSED; (From Our Own Correspondent.)' SYDNEY, February 10. According to a report just issued by Police-Commissioner Childs-, the metropolitan police have reached a high standard of efficiency in "clearing up" , criminal cases. Of nearly 10,000 offences against the law committed here last year, over 11,000, or nearly 70 per cent, were sheeted home to the offenders, and nearly 90 per cent of the total amount and value of the public money reported as stolen was recovered. This certainly sounds encouraging, and it may be, at least in part, the. reason that the police and the C.1.8. have reported that this last week was exceptionally" peaceful and innocent ia the city. Hardly any offences were recorded, fliero were not even "drunks" about, and the wireless squad has had to put in its spare time at night hunting for stolen bicycles. But at the Criminal Courts there are always arrears of work to be cleared off, and this week two cases have been settled which wero of considerable interest to the police force as well as the general public. ♦ On. October 31 of last year four men were arrested for breaking into the Fresh Food and Ice Company's building at Strathfield, "with intent to steal." The case has dragged on for some time, while the detectives were collecting evidence about the "dreadful past" of the men concerned, but they had everything in order and ready for the judge this week. They described Mclvor, the leader of the gang, as "a desperate and dangerous criminal, who would not hesitate to resort to the use of firearms." On one occasion, being interruptccl in a burglary by Detective Wiley, a wellknown figure in the police world here, he elected to "shoot it oiit" rather than surrender. Mclvor "was shot through the arm, but Wiley was badly wounded in mouth and head, and narrowly escaped with his life. Prescribed Sentence "Inadequate." After this and other facts about Mclvor, Acting-Judge Lloyd deferred passing sentence, and took a little time to consider the case. The real reason for the delay was that the maximum sentence for "breaking and entering" is five years, arid Judge Lloyd did not think it heavy enough—under the circumstances. He has therefore invoked section 443 of the Crimes Act, which sets forth that in a case where the maximum penalty prescribed may seem inadequate, the Court may, at its discretion, add an extra sentence. Judge Lloyd therefore sentenced Mclvor to five years for "breaking and entering," and two years' extra under the Crimes Act—seven years in all. This appeal to the Crimes Act is rarely made; in fact, the clause has been virtually inoperative for eome years. Of the other three men concerned in this burglary,, one, Jackson, was described by the detectives as "another dangerous man," and Cave and Lusted as "associated with criminals of the worst type"; and they all goc from two to three years each. On the whole, the Court, in this instance, eeems to have realised its responsibilities to the general public and the police more clearly than is eometipies the case when tenderhearted judgGs have to deal with violent crime. Ten Years' Hard Labour. Another case of special interest to the police as guardians of the law and the public safety was completed this week. On November 18 of last year Constable W. Fraser, while attempting to effect an arrest, was brutally attacked by two men, Johnson and Noble, and was kicked with such violence in the face that the sight of one eye was permanently destroyed. A detective, giving evidence, described Johnson ae "one of the most reckless and dangerous criminals with whom the police had to deal." On a previous occasion, when arrested, Johnson dealt a policeman a blow on the head wjth a jemmy, leaving him for dead the street. The constable had never recovered from the effects of this attack; he had to he discharged from the force as mentally unfit, ,and since then he has been in and out of several mental hospitals. Johnson attempted to appeal to the Court's sympathy. . But acting-Justice Lloyd, with this terrible record before him, imposed a sentence of ten years' hard labour. Johnson at once began to bluster, and demanded right of appeal to judges who "know something about the law"; but he was promptly quelled by the judge, who reminded him that the sentence might be penal servitude for life, and warned him to be careful of what he said. "Wanted Jurors' Addresses. In spite of this, Johnson insolently requested the names and addresses of the jurymen who had convicted him— obviously with the intention of "marking" them for vengeance to be executed by his friends and accomplices during his imprisonment. I may mention, in passing, that this very week a sergeant,of police refused to allow one of his witnesses to remove his glasses or to identify someone in Court —on the ground that lie would thereby expose himself to vengeance at the hands of the prisoner's friends. The whole case is thus a remarkable illustration of the dangers threatened to the community here by violent and brutal crime; and it is somo relief to know that Johnson, like Mclvor, will bo unable to do much harm for some time to come.