MASKED YOUTHS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 202, 28 August 1933, Page 8

MASKED YOUTHS.

ASSAULT ALLEGED. FRACAS IN CHRISTCHURCH. FOUR LADS BEFORE COURT,. (By Tolegrnph.—Press Association.) CHE IST CHURCH, this clay. An exciting affair is reported to have occurred in Eos?more Terrace, Cashmere, on Saturday night when three masked youths waylaid .a fourth youth, dragged him into a shod and roughly handled him. It is believed that the parties had been friends but had quarrelled. A melodramatic touch was lent to the incident by the fact that the assailants wore hoods that-masked tlieir heads and faces, and covered their shoulders, something after the style of the habiliments ■worn by the Ku Klux Klan. Broad Bashes, tied round the waists, completed the costume. The ambush was apparently planned with care, the three youths waiting in the darkness in Rossinore Terrace, and seizing the victim from behind before he could raise a fir.ger to defend himself. A sack was puiled roughly over his head, and he was bundled along the road to a shed. Then the sack was removed »nd a scuffle ensued. The muzzle of a shotgun carried by one of the assailants is alleged to have been jabbed into his face during the fracas, and to have caused a wound under one eye. Overpowered by odds of three to one, the victim was forced to submit. Some word was exchanged and then a heavy stick was brought down on the victim's 'skull. The captive youth dropped to the ground, feigning unconsciousness, and his assailants then made off. A few minutes later tjie police were informed of the incident. Four youths faced Mr. E. D. Mosley, S.M., in the Police Court this morning. Phillip Pcrcival Sharp, aged 17, was charged with the theft of six shillings, the property of Thomas Allan Crawshaw. William Joseph Hallins, aged 18, and Stanley Thomas Allan Crawshaw, aged 17, were jointly charged with assaulting Philip Percival Sharp. Norman Frederick Fletcher, aged 18, was charged with breaking and entering St. Mary's Church, .Merivale, on August 25, and committing theft. All were remanded till September 5. The police said that all of the accused were members of a clique about which there was a suggestion of the Kelly Gang or the Ku Klux Klan. Sharp was allegedly assaulted for breaking tlio gang's order. There were other charges pending of tlieft, breaking and entering, and car conversion. It was alleged that Sharp was also involved in them. After Sharp was bound and gagged his assailants, said the Chief Detective, stuck a pin into him to see if ho was dead or not; they then made off.