BROUGHT TO BAY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 20 April 1907, Page 1

BROUGHT TO BAY

Are th_ enemies of civilisatien, L'di u'f>st.i3n and Dyspepsia, when Dr ShelHnr's Digestive Tabules are employed j 2s 61 per tin. Obtainable at W. C. Ancell, chemist, ageiit

which we have to contend," said one of the men the other evening, "are the wretched lighting of the worst quarters, and the net-work arrangement of some of the lanes. "None of the backstreets are well lighted, but some of them practically are in darkness. It is in these black holes that nine-tenths of the garotting is done. Countrymen who have just arrived in town are lured into some hotel by a plausible ruffian, who, after thej have had a few drinks, draws him into one of tehse dark corners. His mates are in waiting. One hard, sure blow, and the countryman lies unconscious on the cobblestones. Lucky for him if he has a fair amount of money on him. If he has not his assailants will work off the anger of their disappqir.tmenb by well-nigh kicking him to death. As for the network arrangement of the lanes, all I can say is th!at in soine quarters we have practically no chance of catching a man who is 20 yards 'off when he first sights us. Sometimes we get as near as a few paces, and even then they escape us. Then we have to wait for another chance. Meanwhile the offender goes on with his game." The vicinity ?pi ■ Cumberland-place, Providence-place, and -.M'Cirmac's-place is one of the most difficult. The first is inhabited by_ Greeks and Italians, the second by Indians, and the third by Hindoos and English-speaking men. Off each lane rims a number of alley-ways, inhabited by a me'iiley of evildoers. In this quarter revolver-shots have frequently beep exchanged between police and fugitive.: Each of the ten is armed, and more than one serious quarrel haa been terminated just in tame by the drawing of a service revolver at the critical moment. One lane off Little Lonsdale-street supersedes all others in criminal importance. It is known as the "Lane of the Forty Thieves." It is known by the police that in this lane live no fewer than 18 convicted thieves. Nine live together in one hotel and six in another. The rest are more exclusive, and dwell apart from their fellows. Two of the houses in this lane are strongly barricaded, and wire entanglements have been placed about the gates of another. Nine recent arrivals from Sydney are living in the lane, and sev-' eral of them already under suspicion. "If enly we had a decent 'Vag.' Act," said one of the constables, "we could arrest them before they have timo to do much mischief. As it is, we are helpless, and must leave them to rule the roost in 'The Lane of the Fortv Thieves. " '