A PUGNACIOUS PUSH.

NZ Truth, Issue 107, 6 July 1907, Page 5

A PUGNACIOUS PUSH.

Terrific Tornado on Cambridge Terrace.

DAVE COOK KICKED AND CUFFED-

A Belt uad Bayonet Brought into, Action.

The birtK, development, and general evolution of the "push" movement m our large towns is earnestly brought under the consideration of reformers by this moral newspaper. The Rocks "pushes" of Sydney, and the . hooligans of London and other European cities, have their prototypes m this fair land, and if a little of the money lavished on the heathen were diverted to the conversion of the colonial larrikin, the country would be the richer m coin and goodness. The immediate spurce of this article is the rise and fall and interim savagery of the gang of .hoodlums which pervades Cambridge Terrace, Wellington, and its environments. '

wall, when he continued to use it with discrimination and marked success, but little hope of ultimate victory. The Andrews youths have the kard head and jaw of • the -budding pugilist, and wh«n Bert rushed m with his nut down it looked bad for Whitmore, who missed him with the belt. A neat underhander had a painful impression, however, and the fight continued, -^ea^'time Cook remained f) town, and "was feeling the boots of lijis assailants, when Mrs. Cook pushed out with a scream, and tore i couple of wolves from her desperate husband. At the same instant f, door opened, and threw a stream d light on the scene. Someone said, blood," and they all ran. "•here were eight or ten around each Han, and tho departure was a relief. HMr. Toogood (for complainant) : iWMat condition was Cook m •?<— Well, Ibu couldn't tell if Cook's head was j sheep's head that had been skined, or a lump of raw meat, fin fact, from Whitmore's testimony. Cook appeared to be cooked, so to speak. j To Mr Blair (for defendants) ; Had been ■ living with Cook for six months. The boys were trying to

vious to the night' of the disturbance, he was with two young ladies, when Cook came up to him and accused him of being around m his (Cook's.) place with unlawful intentions jon the previous night. This Herbert James denied. Cook was "puling his pot on," as it were, anr! also used filthy language, to make matters worse. On the following Friday night Harry and Bert called upon Cook to demand an apology, and went to Cook's shop. Cook came out with a bayonet and murderous intentions, and the two tackled him to take it from him. Witness was cut on the head WITH THE BAYONET, which was thrown away by Cook when the light already mentioned appeared on the scene. The only person to touch Cook was himself and Harry, but about twenty people were standing about. Mr. Blair : It is said that Cook's head was raw ?— No, it's a tale. Mr. Tctogood : Who are the girls you visited Cook's place about ?— Clarice Bowden and Maggie Randle. They are factory girls, are they [ not ?— Yes.

going to book's. He was only a witness m the trouble near Alexandra Hall. He was strolling down with a mate at the time to see a young lady. Mr ToogoOd : Oh, another young lady. Wefe there any others with you ?— Walter and Harry. To Mr. Blair : There was no court case about the Alexandra Hall trouble. He had' been asked for information about it by the police. Walter Andrews, 17£ years, said he arrived on the scene with Frank Carroll, and took no part m the fight., Had knocked about with the gang, which had only six members. Frank Carroll, just turned seventeen, corroborated his mate's story with minute detail. To Mr. Toogood he acknowledged he had 'been m trouble m January FOR ASSAULTING A CHOW. > - There were seven or eight m the gang, but only four or five were there that night. Walter Wilson and Alexander Walls, w(ho acknowledged that, they were members of the gang, gave an exact replica of the first story. They had been to the Taranaki-street gymnasium, and were round on a

In the Magistrate's \ Court on Monday three determinedv but temporarily submissive law-^bneakers, named Herbert, Henry, and \ Walter Andrews were charged ,wi«h assault on David Cook, of Cambridge Terrace, onJune 21, and sureties > were applied for to have the hopefulfe bound over to keep the peace. According to the prosecution, it was o\n a Friday might when the gang attafeked Cook, as he was leaving the house. According to Thomas Whitnjiore, who lodges with Cook, and m\ay be taken as the more independent witness of the two, he heard fi nipise outside, and being called by a/young son '■ of Cook ' he seized \his [ volunteer belt and ru shied out. ' He : found a crowd around Cook, punching, him, 'and he distinctly identified/ the three ! Andrews youths amongst the punchers. They shouted, "Giye 'it to Mm !" as t/iey punched, umtfil they got 'him down. Whitmore wast m Cam- ! bridge Avenue, and his Appearance ' diverted part of the crowd, which attacked him savagely on all sides He • \ USED HIS BELT WiTH VALI. OUR \ ' until he had backed up against a

get a bayonet from Cook. Mrs. Annie Cook said that she was bringing m some clothes when she heard the row, which would have wakened Smith HAD HE BEEN REALLY DEAD, and "" which emanated from the lane beside her place. She sprinted through the shop to the front door, and saw two gangs of men, one fighting Cook, and the other assaulting Whitmore. She. saw them kicking Cook, who was on the ground, with two holding on to him. These she tore away, and rescued her battered half. Witness stated further that the bayonet was thrown over the fence, but she did not see who got rid of it. Her husband was unable to work next day, but helped her to mind the shop at night. Mr. Blair proposed to show that the" affair arose out of an accusation and some' bad language used by j Cook on the previous Sunday, and that Walter Andrews had nothing to do with it. He called, Herbert James Andrews, who worked for his father, a Venetian blind maker. On Tuesday night pre-

You go sky-larking up th© lane with these girls' ?— No, we don't. Cook said we went round the back-window after them. , Witness said he knew only three of his mates m the crowd. They had no gang, and no ring-leader. When a row occurred recently near the Alexandra Hall, m Abel-Smith-streat he was "just passing down," and took no part m it. Carroll happened along at the same time. He was "just passing down," too. He happened to hear a little about the Victoria Hotel row. He couldn't account for the gate being tied up with string. Cook cried out to W'h'itunore, "Take on« of these off me," but two outsiders stepped m and engaged Whitmore. Magistrate Riddel I: What is your age ? — Eighteen. Henry Andrews, m evidence, said he would be nineteen next August. He corroborated his brother's observations with conspicuous closeness. ! Mr Toogood : You are often get--1 ting into trouble ?— No, I'm blamed by misfortune, sometimes, .that's all. Hrnvv remarked tint, he had told Carroll and two otiicls they, were

run. Walls said there were ' eight m the gang. They took no part m the fracas. His Worship said Henry and Bert Andrews would be fined 30s each, with coeibs 7s, witnesses 28s, solicitor £1 Is, m default 48 hours imprisonment. As there was not sufficient evidence to connect, Walter Andrews with the affair the case against him would be dismissed. Mr Blair asked for time m which to pay the fine. His Worship : I will give them 24 hours. Mr. Blair pointed out that the defendants were boys m receipt of small wages. He asked for 48 hours., Mr. Toogood : The boys' parents are well-to-do, sir. His Worship : If the boys' parents are well-to-do they should LOOK AFTER THEIR CHILDREN better. Twenty-four hours was fixed. His Worship refljsed: to bind the youths over. p^^|f%~.