RED-HAND GANG

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 February 1927, Page 2

RED-HAND GANG

BOYS’ STREET FIGHT

A verdict of manslaughter was returned against William Arthur Shillibeer, aged 14, at the resumed inquest at Rotherhithe on Albert John Hannah'., a thirteen-years-old schodlboy of Deptford, who was stabbed in the street during, it was stated, a fight with Shillibeer. When the inquiry was opened, a band of Bermondsey schoolboys, known as the ,‘Red Hand Gang” was mentioned, and a boy of fourteen who said he was the “chief,” told the coroner that the gang was also known as the “Angels’ Gang.” Shillibeer, who had been detained by the police charged with stabbing Hannah, elected, with the consent of his father, to give evidence. He said that when he was out with two boys, Morris and Rogers, he was told that the gang was waiting for him. Morris said: “Get something heavy out and put it in your hand.” “I took the knife out and put it in my hand,” said Shillibeer. “I had gloves on. The gang started calling me names and calling me a coward. I said, ‘Who wants a fight?’ Hannah then struck me in the face and turned away, and I followed him. The gang jumped out on me. All the gang were trying to fight me, but Hannah and I vaere the chief fighters and we fell over.”

Dr. Whitehouse: What were you punching him with? —With my clenched fist. Hannah tried to get up, but fell down, and he said, “Slillibeet' you rotter, you have stabbed me!” Dr. Whitehouse (referring to the statement, “Hannah and I were fighting,” alleged to have been made by Shillibeer): Tell me what you did with the knife. When did you open it?—l lied, sir. The knife at first was in my glove and the point down my sleeve, open. It was like that all the time, as far as I can remember. Asked if, when he hit Hannah, the knife got into his clothing, Shillibeer replied that he did not know, but it might have done. The jury were absent a quarter of an hour considering their verdict. Later Shillibeer was l brought before Mr. A. J. Tassell in the Children’s Court at Tower Bridge Police Court charged with murdering Hannah, and was remanded.