SYDNEY CRIMINALS

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 August 1928, Page 7

SYDNEY CRIMINALS

“DROWNED” MAN CHASED

REVOLVER DUEL WITH POLICE

(Australian Press Association.) (By Cable—Press Assn.—Copyright.)

SYDNEY, August 10.

Early in May, Edward Joseph Coffey disappeared. He was supposedly drowned while bathing at Bondi, while oil bail awaiting trial on charges of stealing motor cars. The drowning story was viewed with, suspicion, but the police were unable to trace the man until to-day, when a patrol party in a motor car was scouring the Mascot district, where it was believed that he was hiding. They sighted Coffey, who simultaneously recognised the police, and made off.

A long chase followed. Coffey refused to stop when called upon, so a shot was fired over his head. Coffey drew a revolver and he returned The fire. In the next few minutes a running fight was maintained, and a number of shots were exchanged, till at length Coffey was stopped ■ with a bullet in <his back, and he was then quickly overpowered. In his possession was a revolver, all the eight chambers of which had been discharged. A SALUTARY SENTENCE. SYDNEY, August 10. Giving his reasons in the Court, of Criminal Appeal vUiy he has imposed a sentence of fifteen years’ penal servitude on Leslie Gosper for havifng attempted to discharge a gun at women, Judge Curlewis said: “With regard to the evilly disposed section of the community, I consider it my duty, not only to inspire fear, but, in the case of crimes of violence, to inspire terror. Many people-have to live in the congested areas, where opportunities occur for the commission of outrages, often on children of both sexes, who look to a Judge for protection.” Judge Curlewis remarked that it was significant that in recent years, light sentences for brutal outrages had provoked the prediction that a crop of such crimes would follow. This had been borne out by events. Gosper has appealed against the sentence of fifteen years, on the ground that his shooting was unintentional. The appeal was adjourned.

A SHARPER DEPORTED.

SYDNEY, August 10

A man who early in the year posed as Sir Robert Gunther, an expert from England, and who interviewed Members of the New South Wales Government, as well as the Civic Commissioners' of Sydney, on traffic problems, was deported to-day in the liner Marama to New Zealand, whence he will be sent to England. He is an engineer by profession. The man appeared in New Zealand during the latter part of 1927. and stayed at a fashionable hotel. He got in touch with prominent people, who believed that he was a traffic expert. He arrived at Sydney, armed with letters of introduction, but finally suspicions were aroused regarding his bona tides,' and an investigation resulted in the man getting six months’ imprisonment for imposition. His term has now expired.