GUNMEN’S OMINOUS SHADOW

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 20 June 1931, Page 16

GUNMEN’S OMINOUS SHADOW

rpi-IE shadow of the gunmen is over London. It looms larger every day, and there are those who fear that before long gunfire and murder will be as common in the streets of the British capital as they are in Chicago, says a writer in a London paper. That perhaps is giving too much substance to the shadow; but there is reason to pause and consider the situation when it is remembered that within the last few days -London’s gangsters —they really do exist —have threatened to shoot on sight police officei's who intereferc with their plans and operations. Maybe it is a threat made in bravado, but it cannot be ignored. There are to-day abroad in England —not only in London —more armed miscreants than ever before.. It is true that so far the vast majority of lawbreakers captured in the possession of firearms have hesitated to ruse them. But if one or two of the more desperate men shot down officers attempting to arrest them and made good their escape, others now wavering might throw discretion and restraint to the winds and becoipe murderers of intent. And then London will become worse than Chicago. In the American city the gangsters for the most part content themselves which shooting each other, and it is only occasionally that a police officer or innocent citizen “stops one.” That is because the rival gangs arc contending with each other for the control of the huge profit to be made ou of quenching America’s thirst with something other than soft drinks. 'This illicit liquor industry under Prohibition in Chicago alone is estimated at anything up to £25,000,000 a year—something which the gangsters thmi well worth fighting for. 'There is no form of illegal, traffic in this country which could possibly pro vide lawbreakers with such a. colossal revenue, and therefore there is no in ducement for British gang-vcrs to wage war against each other. Their common enemy is the police and all those who side with law and order, and it is against officers.-and those who aid them that their bullets will be directed if the threat "to which T have alluded is carried out.

Hovering Over London Town

. But why if there are no huge profits to be made should there be any shooting at all?' The answer is that during recent years crime in this country has undergone a radical change. The Great War ; cheapened all ideas as to the value of human life—the dole and the cinema (have done the rest.

Eor years the picture-houses have been showing American-made films which almost glorify the bandit and the ‘ ‘ stick-up ’ ’ man. 'They have enveloped crime with a glamour and put. a halo about the head of the criminal, who according to the pictures generally dies like a “hero” overwhelmed by fearful odds.

The suggestion has not been wasted on our “hoodlums;” the life of the bandit may be short, but according to Hollywood it is at least a merry one, and many of them have elected to pursue it. Thus have some of our gangsters been born, and true to the pictures arc now reported to be threatening war against the police. That is as it may be, but there is one thing certain —criminals are arming themselves. From the possession of a' revolver or other weapon to its use is but a step. The old-time buglar or thief never carried a lethal weapon. One. or two whom I have met have asserted that they did not do so, in- the first place because in the nervous excitement of discovery in their unlawful deeds they might have used it “unintentionally,” and secondly because if arreste.d 'with firearms in their possession they knew that their punishment would be much heavier.

It might be well for the modern gangster, brave in his threats, to remember that to-day the law gives a Judge the power to order penal servitude up to twenty years for any person “possessing firearms with intent to endanger life,” Murders such as are committed in Chicago and elsewhere in America could not escape punishment in Great Britain. It might be that once or twice the equivalent of the customary American verdict of “slayers not apprehended” would be recorded, but eventually the law, incorruptible as it is, would triumph and the gangster bo brought to justice.