GANG BROKEN UP

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 265, 5 August 1937, Page 8

GANG BROKEN UP

Armed Robbery and Other Crimes in Wellington LEADER’S STATEMENT A youthful gang which, throughout June and July, had given the Wellington police considerable trouble, came to its dissolution iu the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, before Mr. AV. F. Stilwell, S.M., when all the members of it pleaded guilty to the several offences charged against them. They were committed to the Supreme Court, Wellington, for sentence. The offences included armed robbery, burglary, breaking and entering, theft and receiving. Accused were; Basil Ernest David Johnston Barrett, painter and seaman, aged 22, -who arrived from England about three months ago; Arthur Frederick Langford, salesman, aged 19; Louis Scott Dunham, factory hand, aged 19; Gordoii Norrie Taylor, clerk, aged 20; and Maurice Bush, storeman, aged 21. All of accused made statements to the police frankly admitting the offences. With the exception of Barrett, who was looked upon as the ringleader, accused were allowed bail in the sums each of £5O and a surety of £5O. In the case of one of the offenders the name was suppressed. All of accused, except Langford, for whom Mr. Ougley appeared, were represented by Air. P. Verschafflelt. The police case was conducted by DetectiveSergeant P. Doyle. Refusing Air. VerschaHelt’s application for bail for Barrett, the magistrate eaid he had formed the opinion, rightly or wrongly, that the others hail been “whipped in” or just led astijay by Barrett. “I don’t think, in view of the seriousness of some of the charges, that this is a case for bail.” Mr. Verschaffelt in his application for bail had submitted that since his arrest Barrett had done everything to make a clean breast of the affair. “The police admit- that everything lie says was true; everv statement he made was proved to be correct. He made the startling statement that he could open every safe in Wellington. He is not a crook. lie is going to take all the blame.” Opposing bail in Barrett’s ease, Detec-tive-Sergeant Doyle said accused had arrived in New Zealand from England three months ago. "Your Worship has heard the evidence and his connection with these crimes. In addition lie is a single man with no stake in the country. He has been quite frank with the police, not only with regard to his acts in this country but also in the Old Country. He has been in prison there and is also wanted there.” Air. A r erechaffelt indicated he would take the matter of being allowed bail to a higher court. ‘‘l know more about these cases than anyone else—more even than the police.” The magistrate: The less you say the better. Barrett and Dunham pleaded guilty to

the armed robbery of a Chinaman, Louie ’ Yee, of the sum of 7/6. Yee said that two men visited his laundry on June 29—he could not be sure the two accused were the men —and one of them pointed a gun at witness and demanded money. They took the few shillings in the till, and then left, after telling witness not to come out. Barrett and Taylor pleaded guilty to breaking and entering by night the dwelling of a Chinaman, George Gee, Taranaki Street, with intent to commit theft. Gee gave evidence of the forced entry to his house, and to the theft of several pounds iu money made up of pennies, halfpennies, and threepenny pieces, a -diamond ring valued at £5, private papers, some shirts, and two suiteases.

Yep Chong, an old age pensioner, who rents a room from Gee, and who was iu the house, said one of the men pointed a guu at him. , Detective Hay said when Barrett was interviewed he made a very frank statement, admitting the charges. He admitted having the gun when Chong came along, and that he told Chong he was looking for money, but said he could not remember pointing the gun. He did not have any ammunition ,and the guu was merely for bluff. Taylor made a statement admitting his association with Barrett in the crime.

“Barrett gave every possible assistance,” said the detective, “and 1 found all he said was correct. He said he was not the man connected with the Alolesworth Street hold-up. He told the police of all the eases he was connected with. His statement helped the police in clearing up quite a lot. Barrett has not let one of the others down. He gave the numbers of the other men associated with him, but he refused to disclose their names. He said he had been instrumental in getting the others into trouble, but he would not give their names.” The magistrate refused to suppress Taylor’s name. Langford pleaded guilty to the theft of £6 from Vernon Kilgour, motor-dealer, Taranaki Street, and to receiving £3 from a youth, whot> name was suppressed, knowing it to have been stolen. The youth, at Langford’s instigation, committed the actual theft.

Bush pleaded guilty to breaking and entering on various dates the warehouse of Frank Boffa, hairdresser and tobacconist, Courtenay Place, and Stealing quantities of cigarettes and tobacco. Barrett pleaded guilty to receiving quantities of cigarettes and tobacco on various dates.

Barrett, Bush and Langford pleaded guilty to the attempted armed robbery of Fon Lee, at a laundry in Taranaki Street. Fon Lee said three men came to the premises on the afternoon of July 3. They closed the front door when they came in, one of the men pointing a gun at. witness through a partition slide, and ordering him to stay where he was. Witness ran out through a side door to a garage, and the three men left by the front door, running in different directions. Barrett pleaded guilty to breaking and entering the shop of Frank Boffa on July 16 and stealing £2. Barrett and Dunham pleaded guilty to breaking and entering the shops of Frank Boffa on July 13, and stealing £7/12/6. £4 of whicli was art union tickets money.