Pretty Girl Loves a Crook

NZ Truth, Issue 1017, 23 May 1925, Page 7

Pretty Girl Loves a Crook

Her Spell m Gaol Both Hardly Twenty, they Make the Pace Cracksman's Appeal m Court — She was his "Look-out"-^-Judge Sends he* Home to her Parents ■ . : ■' . ■ i At the Brisbane Supreme Court recently Eric Fell, a young salesman, convicted on five charges of, breaking and entering and stealing, made a manly appeal on behalf of the unfortunate young girl who was his accomplice. "He who asks a favor for another has the confidence which a sense of justice inspires." So wrote an old-time philosopher, and thouoh Eric Fell was adjudged on hi® own confession as a menace to society and incarcerated for three arid a half years, . he goes to gaol knowing that he is admired for the manner m v which he made good to his unfortunate companion. ' He paid the price — three and a half years' gaol. She was let go. ' ' . .

Throughout the annals of 1 Australian crime (writes "Truth's" Brisbane rep.), one finds very few "shelfs." Most of the crooks .take their gruelling without a murmur, and never betray a pal. Some there are who, "to save their own skins, will attach the blame to anyone m order to get a light sentence. Eric Fell is only 22, but has already joined the large gang of "busters." He was convicted m Melbourne when only 20, and was sentenced to be detained maa reformatory during the Governor's pleasure. On ' March of last year he was released on license, and at once went on to Sydney. There he is supposed to have followed up: his profession, although he <has not been charged with any offence. Much property stolen from Sydney, . however, was found m his possession when he came oh to Brisbane. Brisbane— and the Girl. He reached Brisbane about September, m company with a young and attractive girl, who came from •respectable Melbourne parents — Amy Fell. She is given the name by courtesy. Posing as Fell's wife, she lived with him, at Mark Street, New Farm. Why he never married her is something of a mystery, because he had been m her company for over two years, and was re- . pitted to be engaged to her. He did not make her his wife, but he made her. a burglar. Fell says that he was broke when he landed m Brisbane. He did not consider the advisability of doing some, honest work, but, armed with a complete burglr.rising kit, he started oo r erations m surburban houses. He used the girl as his look-out, and when he removed the' portable articles, such as jewellery, xylonite ware, etc., he handed the things over to her. In every instance the burglaries were carried out with ah audacity that was amazing. Broad daylight did not deter the .enterprising duo, and though people passing, who knew that the owners of the house were out, saw the strangers on the verandah and m the grounds, no thought of detection entered into Fell's head. Six houses were bioken and entered m this fashion* and jewellery and other articles to a total value of over £200 was abstracted. The next move m the game was the disposing of the loot, and here it was that the young cracksman crashed. . Crash and Clink.' The robberies hs/l been reported zo the C.I. Branch, and Detective Gooch was detailed to take up the case. The first place he went to was Antonini's pawnshop. "Eureka," he exclaimed about five minutes later, as he emerged after having a conversation with an assistant. .. Gooch had lots of time at his disposal, so he took up a position m a convenient spot and awaited 1 developments. Shortly afterwards he noticed the girl emerge from the shop cramming notes into her handbag. He at once stopped her. A conversation took place, the upshot of which was that the woman confessed that she had been disposing of property that was not her own. Fell was waiting for her up the street, and. shortly afterwards he was roped m. A brief examination by the detective, who was accompanied by other members of the C.I. Branch, followed/and a visit was paid to the room occupied by the two suspects. There a. large quantity of stolen, property was recovered, and shortly afterwards Fell and his companion were landed m the watchhou^e to answer five charges of "busting." Fell had admitted to the demons that his "wife" was with him m the carrying out of his burglaries, arid that was why the young Melbourrie girl, who comes from respectable people, made her acquaintance with cold, dreary cells. .•■"•■ ; ■ ' ■' * Christmas m Gaol. The police court proceedings finished, both of the .defendants pleaded guilty, and we're committed for sentence. They did not. ask for bail. Thus Christmas Day was spent m Brisbane Gaol. The girl's young life had indeed been blighted. She stayed m prison for nearly three months, until recently she* stood with her companion m the dock at the Criminal Court to hear

what sentence the ' law should pass upon her. . - ,

It was then that Fell, who had been responsible for the downfall of the girl, made an impassioned and emotional speech on her behalf. He won through for her. / For himself, he paid., the price. Addressing Mr. Justice MacNaughton, who presided at the sittings of the Court, Fell, speaking m a clear, distinct voice, said: "I want to make an appeal to your Honor on behalf of my wife." ■"' . His Honor: She is not your wife. • . "No," said Fell, "not m the eyes of this Court, perhaps, but m the eyes of each other she is my wife." Fell halted, visibly affected, while the unfortunate girl,, subject to a battery of prying, inquisitive eyes, bowed her head, and choking sobs escaped her. Continuing, Fell said: "I pleaded guilty for both of us, but had I known that she was to be punished with me, I would have made her plead not guilty. She is not guilty of these charges against her; I am the only one that is to blame. I ask your Honor to take into consideration the length of time that my^poor wife has been m gaol. I ask you to give her the benefits of the First Offenders Act. and if you do so you will never regret it. She acted under my influence and had nothing to do with these charges." Story of Lapse. " , Continuing, Fell told to the Court the reason of his lapse into crime m Bris,bane. . When the girl and he left Mel-* bourne, he said, they were engaged. The parents of the girl were opposed to him by reason of the fact that he had been convicted of a crime. . \ ; He came on with her to Sydney, all the time honestly wishing to do the right thing by her, but prevented from achieving his object by the fact that she was but 20 years of age and her people were hostile towards him. They came to Brisbane and had but two pounds between them when they reached there. He was anxious to obtain employment, because, since he had served his term at the reformatory, ;he desired, to go' straight. That chance, however, was denied him and he turned to burglary. He had influenced her to join^him and that was why she stood in*the dock. "Let her go," he finished passionately. "She had no hand m it at all. ' I am the only one to blame;" ; Dealing with himself, the prisoner said that\ he had been convicted m Melbourne. He had- never really been given a chance. « The police had x said that he always carried a gun, but he did not. carry it for any nefarious design. It was a war relic. The gloves he used for photographic purposes, as the police knew. He had been driven to crime, and though he knew that his appeal rang hollow, ,he asked for the chance that had hitherto been denied him. He would go straight if he received it. Cracksman and Gunman. The police record, as read by Crown Prosecutor Dickson, was decidedly unfavorable to Fell. It showed that he was charged at . one time m Melbourne with shooting at a constable, but had been acquitted. He was regarded by the Melbourne police as a desperate criminal, who' would shoot at once if he was thwarted m any way during the carrying out of a . job. He was wanted m Melbourne for absconding on license. / Mr. Justice MacNaughton sentenced Fell to three and a half years' imprisonment with hard labor. Addressing him, his Honor said: "You have gone about the series of burglaries m a very scientific manner. You made Melbourne too hot to hold you, and you are suspected of having stolen some things irj Sydney. The burglaries have been the work of a. skilled artist m that nefarious occupation. I am quite convinced of that fiom the depositions I have read. ,■ The girl was probably influenced by' you — she was the dummy, and I don't propose to inflict any punishment on her." ' > A smile lighted up Fell's face. His relief was manifestly genuine to all. Continuing, his Honor said: "You, on the other hand, must pay severely fof these burglaries. It is a matter of .great regret that young and intelligent men like you should choose the life of cracksmen m preference to doing hones work." Fell was then sentenced. . "* Back to Her People. Addressing the girl, Justice ' , MacNaughton told her that he had formerly intended to give her a twelve months' sentence, to be suspended under Section 656 of the. Code. However, as arrangements had been, made to send her back to her people, he would sentence her to one day's imprisonment,, the . sentence to date from the previous Monday. . "Your Honor- — — " began Fell. Then a thought seemed to.' strike him, and, shrugging his, shoulders, he was led away. ( . Going down the steps he looked back, gave a wistful glance at his erstwhile partner, and then, bowing his head, continued' his journey to th\j cells.' The girl left the Court m company with a matron from one of the Women's Homes. She goes back to her .people, after paying, as" few girls of her age throughout the- world have; paid, for her infatuation for a criminal.