GANG REIGN TERROR

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 February 1930, Page 7

GANG REIGN TERROR

CINEMA FIGHT IN GLASGOW. Once again the activities of Glasgow gangsters have been brought before the Court, ami this time there stood in the dock three youths who were described as' being members of the notorious gang known as the SouthSide Stickers. The accused were Abraham Zemill, Joseph Lucas and George Stokes, aged 17, 18 and 19 respectively. Zemill is a Pole ami Lucas a Lithuanian, and their homes are in the Gorbals district, where the Stickers have their existence. Despite their youth, this trio are undoubtedly of a dangerous disposition, and their record —each of them has previous convictions for violence —shows that on the slightest provocation they find recourse to voilence. The trial was the sequel to a pitched battle which took place on a Sunday on Albert Bridge, when knives, razors, axes, hammers, bottles and bricks were employed to inflict bodily injury. During the battle a youth was fatally stabbed, and for a lime a charge of murder hung over the. heads of those whom the police believed to be responsible for the tragedy. The case implicating the three youths already named concerns a melee which took place in a. picture house in the South-Side of the city. The Fiscal explained that it is apparently the habit of members of this gang to visit picture houses in bands ami cause trouble under cover of darkness. On this particular night (he three accused entered a. cinema bouse and observed a youth named Solomon. Some time previously Solomon, who is not a member of any gang, and Lucas, ,11ml fallen out, the latter suffering' bodily injury at the bauds of Solomon. Stokes and Zemill, when they saw Solomon, encouraged Lucas to go and beat him tip. The three went over to the youth, ami Stokes, drawing the blade of a razor from his pocket, slashed Solomon on the face, inflicting a wound three incites long (hat stretched from (he left, ear to the neck. A free fight ensued, and Solomon received further injuries from Zemill. who attacked with his bare fists. During the melee Lucas was stabbed in the neck by an unknown assailant, and i ( only wifs the greatest

diliiculty that order was restored in the ball. When the noise had died down Solomon and Lucas were found Io he both bleeding profusely, and they were rushed to the Infirmary, where they wi re detained. Lucus had escaped narrowly with his life, the wound inflicted on him missing the juglar vein by a hair’s breadth. Ii was while Ihe two were lying in the infirmary that the police detectives commenced their investigations, with the result that Zemill and Stokes were arrested, while Lucas was taken into custody when he was liberated from the institution. 'rhe Fiscal handed his lordship reports regarding the three youths which bad been received from the Borstal authorities, who declared, that Stokes and Zemill were tit for Borstal treatment, but that. Lucas was not considered 1.0 be. It was then that sensational allegations against Borstal treatment were made by the agent appearing for Zemill. “1 appeal to your lordship,” said the agent, “not to send Zemill to a Borstal Institute. I would suggest, a term of imprisonment. It is my firm belief that Borstal will do this youth more harm Ilian good.” Zemill and Stokes were each sent lo the requisite term of three years i to Borstal and Lucas was sentenced i to sit; months’ imprisonment.