A Week-end of Brazen Crime

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 15 February 1930, Page 18

A Week-end of Brazen Crime

SYDNEY policemen are kept busy these days. A record week-end produced the following collection of sensational crimes:

Two men were held up at revolver point (reports the “Daily Guardian”), a man was slashed with a razor at Redfern, factories were broken into, and several arrests resulted. Near the Domain a watchman was garotted and robbed by three men. Justice in this case followed swiftly.

At the corner of Cathedral and Crown Streets a mob of hooligans assaulted three police. One policeman was injured and a man arrested. Demanding money from a Chinese, Sun Sing, a market gardner, of Botany, one of three thugs threatened him with a revolver when he refused.

Sing was struck on the head with the butt of the revolver. He was admitted to South Sydney Hospital with a nasty gash. Most sensational of the two hold-ups was that perpetrated in broad daylight in Edward Mace’s 'tobacconist’s shop in / Darlinghurst Road, Darlinghurst.

Shortly after 9.30 a.m. Mace was sweeping out his shop when a man - entered and shut the door.

With his back to the door he faced Mace grimly, and then, drawing a revolver from his pocket, said: “I’ll shoot you stone dead.” Mace told Detective-Sergeant Miller and Plainclothesman Richards, of Darlinghurst, that he had never seen the man before, and was too amazed to move.

“I will shoot yon stone dead,” the gunman repeated tersely. Mace made a move in his direction, and the man pressed the trigger. A faint click was the only result, and Mace watched fascinated as his attacker quickly cocked the gun and pressed the trigger again. The revolver again misfired and Mace, taking his life in his hands, sprang at the man. The gunman was too quick, however. With an oath he whipped open the door and dashed down the street. Mace followed a short distance, and then gave up the chase, thankful to have escaped.

One of the most amazing features of the holdup is the daring displayed by the gunman. Mace’s shop is situated about 40 yards from the King’s Cross intersection. Hundreds of pedestrians pass every few minutes, and the chances of apprehension taken by the thug mark him as either a very daring or a desperate man.

Police are at a loss to account, for the holdup, for beyond repeating several times that, he would shoot Mace dead the man said nothing. The till was plainly visible, but no demand for money was made.

In a drunken brawl, Robert Clime Bigger, of Elizabeth Street, City, was slashed across the face .with a razor in Redfern.

Six arrests were made, and Bigger had several stitches inserted in the gash in his face at South Sydney Hospital.

Shortly after 1.30 a.m. four men are alleged to have broken into James Hundon’s preserves

Sydney Gangsters Have Busy Time

Thugs and Slashers Work Overtime

factory in Young- Street, Redfern, and stolen 100 tins of jams and a quantity of preserved figs.

The robbery was discovered soon after and Sergeant Cox and Constables Naish, Weaver and Allan, of Redfern police, within five minutes had four men under arrest, and had recovered the jam and figs. The men were charged at Redfern with breaking, entering and stealing.

Sergeant McNiven and Constables Turner and Turnham, of Leichhardt, took part in a sensational arrest shortly after 2.30 a.m. They Avere passing Robins and Son’s boot factory in William Street, Leichhax-dt, when they noticed a man acting suspiciously. Investigating, they found that the premises had been entered, and many pairs of shoes stolen. The man is alleged to have been in possession of a large quantity of shoes. He was arrested and charged at Leichhardt Police Station Avith breaking, entering and stealing. A man arrested later in the day in connection Avith the affair, Avas held on a similar charge.

At Arncliffe, after a five miles’ car chase, Constable Mord arrested a man AAdiom police allege to be attempting to break into the Arncliffe Hotel.

The episode occurred at 3 a.m., and Mord had disturbed three men avlio Avere acting suspiciously near the hotel. Tayo ran, Avhile the third jumped into a Avaiting car, and drove off at a high speed. Commandeering a passing car, Mord folloAved. He fiired shots at the fugitive car, A\diich then stopped. The man Avas arrested.

Three thugs brutally garrotted and robbed James PoAver, a watchman, at the City RailAvay, near the entrance to the Domain, shortly after midnight. A passer-by who had Avitnessed the assault ran to the detective office, and a squad of police, under Detective-Sergeant Mcßae, arrested three men near the Botanic Gardens. PoAver said his watch and some money had been stolen, and these were later recovered. His bruised throat and badly lacerated face bore testimony to the brutal handling he had received.

Interfering in a street fight at the corner of Cathedral and CroAvn Streets, Constable Joines, of Darlinghurst, attempted to arrest a man. Instantly the large croAvd became ugly, and refused to let the constable take his man. PI ain - clothesmen McGill and Rushbrook, of Darlinghurst, came to Joines’s assistance, and Avere attacked by the mob. Rushbrook Avas kicked and beaten about the face, his eyes blackened, and his lip split. The man Avhom. Joines arrested Avas taken to Darlinghurst police station and charged Avith riotous behaAdour and resisting arrest. Entering a house in Albion Street, Surry Hills, on Saturday, free men assaulted the tAVO occupants, aaJio subsequently received treatment at Sydney Hospital. Police from Regent Street arrested the five men, Avho Avere charged with riotous behaviour.