"SHOT LIKE A DOG."

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18772, 28 July 1924, Page 7

"SHOT LIKE A DOG."

A MYSTERIOUS LETTER.

DRUG INSPECTOR THREATENED.

MELBOURNE COCAINE TRAFFIC.

" Look out, you will be shot on sight, like a dog at night!" Such was the threat which Mr. Gecrgo Bates, a Melbourne Pharmacy Board inspector,. declares was directed at him by a mysteri-. ous, unsigned letter that he received recently. It is; th® duty of Mr. Bates to check the traffic in cocaine in the city and suburban shops, and the sailing of poisons by unauthorised people, contrary to law. Ho believes the threat came from certain underworld denizens who had been deprived l by his vigilance of their

customary purchases of " snow." Th® letter reads Jr—" Bates, you need not think that because you ha>e stopped the tonic wine it cannot be got; you need not think that because you are tha 'ineans ; of checking the sale of dope that'wo will not get it. Look out l You will bo shot on sight like a dog at night,**'; r;

Mr. Bates declares that he " and hia family have been subjected to annoyance during tho last ; fivo years, 'although ha has frequently moved. Sinco we have been in 'Malvern," he went on, " stones have been flung against tho house for-a long time. The racket used'to begin at 2 a.m. and would last till 4 a.m. Several times a car, with the engine running, hits been waiting furiher along the street after i these blue meta! attacks. I have- heard running footsteps, ending at the station* ary car; in fact, on one occasion steps w« ■ heard were 50 short axid so light 'that l believe itwas a woman who ran towards the car." • ■ " This sort of thing, would kill you In time," Mrs. Bates broke in while her husband was telling the story. • " Fo.r iweeks I could not get more than two hours' jsjeep each night." . "Wq can't sten^tbia,' 1 said Mr, Bates. "Something mtisfcbe done." ' ] 'vt . The police are inquiring into certain aspects of Mr. Bates' charge, v '