" TOUGH GUYS."

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 280, 25 November 1937, Page 9

" TOUGH GUYS."

NO ONE CAN ESCAPE,

EXTRAORDINARY LETTER.

BOY DEMANDED MONEY.

"If you do not obey these orders someone will find your body in the dyke with your belly full of lead. Tough guye from Chicago let no orrc ' escape. You must put four-dollars- or two .pounds on the driving neat pf youc gar, the number of which I know, and if you want to live ilo not give this letter to the cops. Get jour car full of petrol and oil and leave it outride the cinema with your license and certificates on the seat."

Thie was a letter alleged to have been scut by a 14-year-oM boy who wa*» accused at South End, England, Juvenile Court. His mother said that *>he could not understand it because the boy is of such ii nervous deposition that he was scared of the dark. "Enough For « Film." The boy was accused of stealing an ignition key and a charm from a car belonging to Mr. Martin Jones, of uttering the contents, a letter demanding £2, and being in possession of an imitation automatic pistol. "There seems to be enough material here for a Him," said the chairman. Sir Krederic Senior, remanding him for a fortnight. Inspector Faulkner said that the car had been standing on the forecourt of Mr. Jones' shop on September 25. Mr. Jones had been unable to move it because the ignition key had been

removed. Next day when he went to hie shop Mr. Jones found the letter on the mat inside. It was addressed to "The Owner of this Shop." . Mr. Jones did not take much notice of the letter at first, eaid the inspector. He thought that it was a boyish prank. But next day the boy came to him mid s.iid he had l>eei) asked to give him a note from a man outside a cinema. On

the envelope was written: "This ie no practical joke," and inside was a note which read: "If you fail to obey this time your life will not be worth living." Behind a Picture. The boy declined to say who the man was, but described him as being aged 40, of Jewish appearance, wearing hornrimmed spectacles, and a blue sports jacket. When he was questioned by the police the boy was found to be in possession of the imitation automatic pistol. The inspector said that it was a very formid able-looking article and made a very loud report. The boy, it was said, admitted writing the letters and disguising his handwriting when doing so. He said that he bought the pistol for 13/6. Behind a picture at his home wae a book entitled "Tough Guys Escaping." The father told the court that the boy must have got his ideas either from trashy books or the cinema.