RIVAL GANGSTERS QUARREL IN LONDON’S WEST END

Evening Star, Issue 26137, 26 June 1947, Page 7

RIVAL GANGSTERS QUARREL IN LONDON’S WEST END

(Rec. 9.27 a.m.) LONDON, June 25. Eugene Messina, a 89-year-old Maltese, described as the best-dressed gang leader in the square mile round Piccadilly Circus, was sent to penal servitude for three years for wounding a rival gangster, Carmewo Vassalo, who is at present serving a sentence of four years for conspiring to demand protection money from women in the West Eud. Messina, who, on the statement of the prosecution, runs a RollsRoyce car, owns . a house in Berkeley Square, and has an income from undisclosed sources running into thousands a year, briefed two King’s counsel for his defence, which it is estimated cost him between £2,000 and £3,000, Detective-inspector Black told th’o judge that Messina admitted he had done no work since he arrived in Britain, that he evaded the Army call-up, and followed no general occupation. When the recorder, Sir Gerald Dodson, asked how Messina got his living, Detective-inspector Black repjied: “He is closely associated with certain types of women in the .West End of London. The women are" of foreign extraction.” Detective-inspector Black added that Vassalo attacked Messina as the result of a dispute between some of these women. Messina’s name was 'mentioned at the Old Bailey two months ago when five Maltese were charged with demanding “ protection money ” from women. Since then the police vice squad has been making widespread inquiries into allegations and suggestions made by several people' concerned in the case. Although Messina, Vassalo, and , four other Maltese , are -nowsentenced, investigations are still proceeding, and are likely to lead to further developments as part of the clean-up campaign in the West End on which Scotland Yard has now embarked.