Two Members Of Gang Caught

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31862, 14 December 1968, Page 13

Two Members Of Gang Caught

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter —Copyright) LONDON, Dec. 13. A three-week crosscountry chase ended in a small London hotel yesterday for two members of a “Bonnie and Clyde” gang and their teenage girl companion. Police entered the hotel this morning and hauled out the trio, who, in a series of

stolen cars, had out-raced police all over England. The hotel owner Michael Poyser said the two men—wanted in connection with a £26,000 bank hold-up—were “fighting all the way” as police dragged them out. Left behind in the rooms was a collection of American magazines. One called “Crime Does Not Pay” contained an article headed “The Truth About Bonnie and Clyde” (the depression era gangster couple who stole cars 'and robbed banks). Francis Farren, aged 20. and Christopher Hague, aged 19, the two men arrested today, escaped from a remand centre in south east England six weeks ago. With them were Roger Dennhardt and Christopher Tharme, both 20. Soon after, a bank in Birmingham was robbed and newspapers splashed phographs of the four men as well as the 18-year-old blonde Sandra" Shelton.

Then a motorist was held up at shotgun point and his car stolen. Police were issued guns and a nation-wide hunt was on.

A trail of stole • cars led police through northern, central, western and southern JSngland and finally reached London, where some of the gang switched from cars to motor-cycles. The two men and the girl had been at the hotel since Monday. Police later charged Farren and Hague with assaulting a prison officer and Sandra Shelton with receiving money knowing it to be stolen.

They will appear in Court today.