AUSTRALIAN CRIMINAL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22545, 12 April 1935, Page 10

AUSTRALIAN CRIMINAL

UNIVERSITY DEGREES FINE WAR RECORD. (From Our Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, March 28, One of Sydney’s most remarkable criminals —a man with two university degrees and a fine war record —has been sentenced to death for attempting to murder a constable, after he and another man had broken into a store at Bargo, a New South Wales country town. The name of James Lucas, as he is known to the police, hides his real identity, but he is the eon of well-known and highly-respected parents, his father having been a high official in the Postal Department. He was born at Petersham, a Sydney suburb. When his father was stationed at Goulburn, Lucas was enrolled as a student at St. Patrick’s College. Men who to-day fill positions in Sydney were fellow pupils. At least two have lucrative and successful practices at the Bar. The natural, ability of young Lucas won for him the praise of his masters. Leaving college he enrolled at Melbourne University, to study for the degree of engineering. Then came the war, and Lucas himself describes it as the turning point in his life. He enlisted and left Australia as a second lieutenant, serving on Gallipoli and in France with an infantry battalion. In July, 1916, he was returned as medically unfit, being then a captain. Friends were appalled at the change the war had wrought in him. He was mentally and morally shell-shocked. But Lucas still clung to his ambitions. With his pension he paid his fees at Melbourne University, and graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts and Civil Engineering. Those degrees were hardly won, but, according to Lucas, life began to give him “ more kicks than halfpence,” and, developing an anti-social complex, he delved into the history of Communism. Gradually he trod the downward path—occasionally putting his thoughts to writing—for he is an accomplished man and has written three novels. Crime, he says, never at any time offered him remunerative return. It did, however, give him the opportunity of expressing his own outlook on the social system. So Lucas, with the advantage of an excellent education, utilised his ability in the organisation of daring coups. He has been gaoled for robbery. He has been gaoled for imposition. He had previously worked for some years in a Government department, and it was while there, about five years ago, that he first came under the notice of the police. He was brought by Detective Burns to a police station for questioning about money transactions, and while seated in a car, produced a pawn-off shot-gun and fired. The charge missed Burns by inches. Lucas served a sentence of three years’ imprisonment for that attack. After his arrest for the shooting of the constable at Bargo, Lucas revealed that he believed in Communism, and rebuked a detective for his religious faith. “ You want to read more widely,” was his advice. Waiting in a cell at Darlinghurst after he had been sentenced to death. Lucas whiled away the time by working out a cross-word puzzle. Immediately after sentence had been passed, he was just as cool. “ I got what I expected. I did not think it would turn out any other way,” he said, although continuing to protest his innocence.

Lucas lias lodged an appeal, but even if this is dismissed, it is unlikely that he will be hanged. The general policy of tbe State is that only persons guilty of tbe most revolting crimes are executed, tbe last hanging being in 1032. When a Labour Government is in power, no crime is met with capital punishment. It is 15 years since tbe criminal court lias passed sentence of death for attempted murder.