WAVE OF CRIME.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 250, 22 October 1935, Page 5

WAVE OF CRIME.

APPALLING RECORD. KILLINGS AND WOUNDINGS. MAN SHOT FROM BEHIND. (Prom Our Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, October 16. , There are three young men in Long Bay gaol-—the eldest is only 21 years old —charged with the murder of Leslie Hobson, who was brutally kicked to death, under circumstances that I have already described, in the main street of Newtown a week back. There is in Newcastle Hospital a man with a bullet in his brain still retaining enough consciousness and vitality to testify against a man charged with shooting him four days ago. There is a barman in custody in this city charged this week with shooting a woman, the licensee of the hotel where he was employed. There is a man lying at the door of death in St. Vincent's Hospital for whom a "special Court" was arranged at his bedside so that he might give evidence against a man accused, of attempted murder. Residents Alarmed. In Allawah suburban hospital there is a boy still unconscious who, last Sunday niglit, lying asleep 011 the verandah of his own house, was attacked by three ruffians, who battered his head with a billet of wood and left him barely living. At Forbes, 300 miles west of Sydney, the police are searching anxiously for some skilful marksman who shot dead a man and a woman driving together along the main road last Wednesday evening. Again, in Sydney, the detectives of the Criminal Invesigation Bureau are "combing the underworld" for clues that may lead them to the murderer who shot dead a young man I sitting apparently alone in his own I home on that same Wednesday night.

This, be it understood, is the record of violent crime for one single week with which our police have to grapple. Xo wonder that people are beginning to get alarmed and to ask each other and the authorities what can be the meaning or the cause of this strange outburst of violence and ferocity. Mr. Cliaffey, our Chief Secretary, who has so often complimented the police force on its efficiency, and the C.1.8. detectives on their success in tracking down the perpetrators of desperate crimes, seems a little less optimistic than usual, and he can only suggest that we are in the grip of one of those periodic "waves of crime" that manifest themselves from time to time to perplex our psychologists and to embarrass our "guardians of the public peace:" No doubt all these cases will find their way into the Courts later, and it will then be possible to discuss them in detail. But the last on my list is so startling and mysterious that, even at this stage of the investigations, it deserves something more than passing

notice. In King Street, St. Peter's, one of the industrial suburbs that make up South Sydney, two young men lived in bachelor quarters together. Leslie Tickner, 25 years old. was a metal worker by trade but he liad bee'n a pugilist of sonic note, having boxed with success under the name of Darkie Sullivan. He. was well known in the locality, had many friends, both men and girls, and was very popular—"one of the best," as some of them told the police later. His mate, John Stack, had gone out on Wednesday night about 7 o'clock, leaving Tickner quite well and in most cheerful spirits. Stack went to a picture show with another young man, had supper with him later, and got back to his room near midnight. He found Tickner lying dead on the floor with blood trickling from a bullet wound in tlie back of his head.

Crime Reconstructed. j

It was easy—up to a point—to re-j construct the crime. There were two| chairs, one a little behind the other, j There were powder marks on the back i of the dead man's neck. It seemed clear j that the murderer had moved his chair back a little behind Tickner and then at close quarters fired the fatal shot. But why? The police interviewed at least 100 people in that neighbourhood, but they could find no proof that Tick-

ner had any enemy, no sign of any "trouble," 110 evidence of feud or vendetta. The young fellow had a considerable "portrait gallery of girl friends," and many who knew him were questioned by the police. Tlicy all liked him, some spoke with affection of him, but none knew or would tell of any fact or circumstance that could explain this sudden and tragic end. Of course the police endeavoured to trace his movements after Stack left him that evening. Tickner was seen in the main street about 7.30 p.m. with a girl who lias not since been identified. But he must have parted from her before 8 o'clock, for at that time he was at a friend's house, and he called there alone. After staying about an hour he left, apparently intending to return home, and he '»vas not seen again alive by anyone whom the police have interviewed so far.

Empty Beer Glasses. When the police examined the room they found some bottles of beer, unopened, anil several glasses already used on the table. These signs, of revelry suggested that a "party" might have taken place and that Tickner may have been sliot in a drunken orgy. But several men came forward to testify that they had "had a glass" with Ticliner in his room earlier in the day, and that sonic of the glasses were evidently "left over" from their visit. After further examination and discussion the police rejected, the idea of the "party" and inclined to the belief that Tickner came back alone, and that the murderer had either hidden himself in the house — as the door was unlocked —or crept upon his victim unawares. Of course, this is only conjecture, but the few clues available point in this direction. Naturally no weapon has been found. Tlie gunman had only to go out of the door, taking his gun with him, and

turn into a dark lane by which the back of the house is approached, to escape observation and to disappear into tlie night, leaving not a trace behind him. It has been suggested that Tickner may have expected a visitor, or he would have gone out with Stack, as he some- | times did, to~tlie pictures, but this, again, is guesswork. Though the police are working hard at the case the mystery of Leslie Tickner's murder, yet unsolved, may serve as another reminder of y the insecurity or the cheapness of Luman life in this great city.