FLYING SQUAD ELUDED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23226, 25 June 1937, Page 18

FLYING SQUAD ELUDED

ALLEGED BANDIT CHIEF "A WAVE OF ROBBERIES " Remembered as the driver of the "phantom car," which created so much concern for police and private citizens in the East End of London eight years ago, and alleged leader of a bandit gang, James Charles Bennewith, aged 39, a labourer, stood in the dock at London Ses-, sions, last month, c har with Joseph Hoy, aged 27, with stealing a motor car in Stepney. " Bennewith was the leader of an East End gang, most of whom are now serving long sentences, said : Detective Sergeant L. Barrett in evidence. " He is a wonderful and aecomp- j lished driver, according to his employers. The operations of this gang extend over a wide area. Some of its members have been arrested and sentenced as far away as Edinburgh. I would like to add that when convicted in July, 1929, Bennewith was the driver of the ' phan-, torn car' of the East End." Sir Herbert Wilberforce, deputy chairman: Is that in a detective novel?—No, although it reads like I it. ~ I The officer added that while on bail on this charge Hoy was caught

opening a safe at Bournemouth, and was now serving a sentence of 18 months for that offence. Hoy was sentenced to two years imprisonment, and Bennewith to 21 months' hard labour. The "phantom car" referred to by Sergeant Marrett was responsible for a wave of robberies in London, especially in the East End. Driven by Bennewith, this car escaped the Scotland Yard Flying Squad time after time. It was dark blue when first stolen by the gang, who changed its colour to maroon, and then to dark green.