BOY’S “GANGSTER AMBITIONS”

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 March 1934, Page 4

BOY’S “GANGSTER AMBITIONS”

A BURGLARY ATTEMPT

LONDON, January 31

A 17-years-old youth, said to have had “gangster” ambitions, who fell in attempting to break into the house of Mr Gordon Selfridge, at Carlton House-terrace, S.W., pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey yesterday. He 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 this country only five weeks.

Smith was found on the morning of January 9, lying in the area of Mr Selfridge’s house with a broken wrist and head injuries. He had on him an unloaded automatic pistol, which was broken in the fall.

Detective-Sergeant Catterall said Smith 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.