GANGSTER’S THREAT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21538, 9 January 1932, Page 10

GANGSTER’S THREAT

WILL SHOOT ON SIGHT The shadow of the gunman is over London. It looms larger every day, and there are those who fear that before long gunfire and murder will be as common in the streets of the British capital as they are in Chicago, says a writer in a London paper. That perhaps is giving too much substance to the shadow; but there is reason to pause and consider the situation when it is remembered that within the last few days London’s gangsters—they really do exist—have threatened to shoot on sight police officers who interfere with their plans and operations. Maybe it is a threat made in bravado, but it cannot be ignored. There are to-day abroad in England —not only in London—more armed miscreants than ever before. It is true that so far the vast majority of lawbreakers captured in the possesion of firearms have hesitated to use them. But if one or two of the more desperate men shot down officers attempting to arrest them and made good their escape, others now wavering might throw discretion and restraint to the winds and become murderers of intent. And then London will become worse than Chicago. In the American city the gangsters for the most part content themselves with shooting each other, and it is only occasionally that a police officer or innocent citizen “stops one.” - That is because the rival gangs are contending with each other for the control of the huge profit to be made out of quenching America’s thirst with something other than soft drinks. This illicit liquor industry under Prohibition in Chicago alone is estimated at anythng up to £25,000,000 a year—something which the gangsters think well worth fighting for. There is no form of illegal traffic in this country which could possibly provide lawbreakers with such a colossal revenue, and therefore there is no inducement for British gangsters to wage war against each other.

Their common enemy is the police, and all those who side with law and order, and it is against officers and those who aid them that their bullets will be directed if the threat to which I have alluded is carried out.

But why if there are no huge profit to be made should there be any shootat all? The answer is that during recent years crime in this country has undergone a radical change. The Great War cheapened all ideas as to the value of human life—the dole and the kincma have done the rest. For years the picture houses have been showing American-made films which almost glorify the bandit and the “stickup ” man. They have enveloped crime with a glamour and put a halo about the head of the criminal, who, according to the pictures, generally dies like a “ hero ” overwhelmed by fearful odds.

The suggestions has not been wasted on our “ hoodlums,*' the life of the bandit may be short, but according to Hollywood it is at least a merry one, and many of them have elected to pursue it. Thus have some of our gangsters been born, and true to the pictures are now reported to be threatening war against the police. That is as it may be, but there is one thing certain —criminals are arming themselves. From the possession of a revolver or other weapon to its use is but a step. The old-time burglar or thief never carried a lethal weapon. One or two whom I have met have asserted that they did not do so, in (he first place because in the nervous excitement of discovery in their unlawful deeds they might have used it, “unintentionally,” and, secondly, because if arrested with (irearms in (heir possession they knew that (heir punishment would he much heavier. It might he well for the modern gangster, brave in his threats, to remember that to-day the law gives a judge the power to order penal servitude up to 20 years for any person “ possessing firearms with intent fo endanger life.” Murders such as are committed in Chicago and elsewhere in America could not escape punishment in Great Britain. It might be that once or twice the equivalent of the customary American verdict of “slayers not apprehended” would he recorded, but eventually the law, incorruptible as it is, would triumph and the gangster be brought to justice.