DESPERADOES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 14 July 1924, Page 7

DESPERADOES.

ITALIAN GANGS. TRIAL IN CANADA. BY CABLE—PRES 3 ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT 7 OTTAWA, July 12. A telegram from Montreal says the break-up oi one- of Canada’s most dangerous gangs of Italian desperadoes has been effected through the condemnation to death of six men who had participated in the hold-up of a collection car of a bank of Hochelaga in April, causmg the death of two employees. The bandits escaped with 140,000 dollars, of which the police recovered 40,000 dollars. ’The robbery occurred at mid-day in the centre of the city, following several rehearsals. The plan apparently originnted with an ex-<let-ec'tive, who arranged the theft. Six motors provided means of escape. The authorities, however, through the confessions of two of the bandits, presented a strong case, but the jury disagreed, whereupon a new jury, trying all .six together, found a verdict of guilty of murder. The trial disclosed remarkable machinations, including the so-called “trouble insurance fund.” to which bandits paid ton per cent, of the proceeds of robberies, for which they received a. promise of immunity loom persecution, or, at the worst received the'assistance of abF lawyers.

Two more members of the gang will stand their trial in the autumn. One bandit was killed during the arrest and two others are being still sought-.