FASCINATED BY GUNS

Evening Star, Issue 21714, 8 May 1934, Page 10

FASCINATED BY GUNS

YOUTH'S “ MAD IMPULSE " A seventeen-year-old youth, said to have had “ gangster ” ambitions, who fell in attempting to break into the house of Mr Gordon Selfridge, London, pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey lately. Accused was charged in the name of Max Smith, but it was disclosed that his real name is Seymour Sidney Macdermott. He is an Australian, and had been in England only five weeks. Smith was found one morning lying in the area of Mr Self ridge’s house with a broken wrist and head injuries. He had on him an unloaded automatic pistol, which was broken in the fall. A detective said he apparently fell while forcing a window, and dropped 25ft. Smith handed in a statement in which he said that youths of his age were fascinated by guns. He bought the automatic in China and had carried it wherever he went. “ All I can say,” he added, “ is that it was a mad impulse.” The Recorder, postponing sentence, said Smith had seen gangster films, and thought he would like to have a shot at the same kind of thing. He hoped by next sessions an effective plan would be put before him for sending Smith back to Australia.