AN ORGANISED GANG.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21022, 10 May 1930, Page 21

AN ORGANISED GANG.

OPERATIONS IN VICTORIA. / POLICE ON THE TRAIL. rfnoM Ode Own CotiHESPONnENT.) SYDNEY, May 1. Behind the arrest in Melbourne the other night of William Emanuel Roach, who escaped from gaol on April 5, there is an amazing story of a battle of wits between the. detective force and an organised gang which, the detectives believe, has been financing the escape of prisoners. The police think that the gang is composed of men who are receivers of stolen prpperty. The object, according to the detectives, was to keep Roach in hiding until he could be smuggled out of the country. ■ Ever since the escape of Roach squads of detectives have been scouring the country, following up slender clues and often keeping an all-night vigilance on houses where it was suspected that he was sheltered. Prom the beginning of the hunt detectives realised that Roach and those behind him were clever and ingenious people, and that his capture would not be easy. Roach, when once clear of the prison Walls, is said to have conceived, with the aid of his confederates, a most elaborate plan for deceiving the detectives, and laying false trails to put them off the proper track. His plan was to have the detectives sent on false quests into country for him while he was in hiding in the metropolis. For weeks 'bis ruse succeeded, but ultimately the forces of the Jaw were too strong, and the close secret of his plans became known to the detectives. His arrest followed. For some time after his escape Roach’s letters, which contained money that came from some mysterious source, were sent to different centres in the country under fictitious names. There they were collected by a youth who travelled specially from Melbourne for the purpose. The youth, on his return to Melbourne, would go to an appointed place on the Caulfield racecourse and deliver the letters, which, it is believed, were originally sent from one of the suburbs of Melbourne. The mystery of the source of the letters is puzzling the detectives, who, however arc satisfied that they were sent by an organised gang. Watch was kept by the police for some weeks on the country post offices where delivery of the letters was being taken, bnt never once did Roach appear. Raids on various houses in the country, where it was thought Roach might be, were without result. _ One day last week the detectives decided to shadow the youth who was collecting the letters, and the trail took them to the Caulfield racecourse. The detec•tives did not see Roach enter the racecourse, but as soon as the youth entered th' whole place was surrounded, and Roach was found among a clump of trees. He had evidently thought ithat he would be able to out-distance the detectives ,if he was discovered by them. Roach expressed great astonishment at his capture and declared that he had been betrayed. At the same time he refuses to disclose the gang which was of great assistance to him, but the police are hot on the trail, and anticipate being able to mafrj important arrests which will have the result of ridding Melbourne of a largo number of undesirables. •