GANG WARFARE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3870, 15 May 1928, Page 76

GANG WARFARE.

FRESH OUTBREAK IN SYDNEY. .RUFFIANS’ SWIFT REVENGE. SYDNEY April 12. bang warfare, dormant for three weeks, broke out afresh last Saturday night when a labourer, Thomas O’Brien, was shot deid m the street in the centre of the headquarters of the underworld, Surry Hills. It is apparent that O’Brien was the victim of a vicious vendetta. Ho has told the police that he had openly defied the ultimatum of one of the gangsters that he should leave the district. He learned that he had offended the gangsters—the police think that the trouble concerned a girl—and when told on Saturday afternoon that the gang had decided that he must move to another district he replied that he would live where he pleased, gang or ro gang.” The swift vengeance of the underworld overtook O’Brien the same evening. He was standing outside an hotel when he saw the gangmaster. in the deep shadows of a vacant section opposite. Other men were yvith the gangster, and some of them approached O’Brien. “ Are you going tc do as yon are told or do you want a bullet,” one of the meu said to him. " I am going to stop where I am. You are not game to shoot,” was the response. Immediately.there was a flash from the gangster’s pocket, and O’Brien crumpled upon the roadway. Seeing their victim helpless the rest of the gang emerged from their hiding place and made towards the huddled form. O’Brien had not lost consciousness and, seeing the approaching mob, staggered to his feet and stumbled around a corner. An open side door of the hotel spelt sanctuary to him. With the gang almost on his heels he lurched inside and slammed the door in the faces of the men. Baulked of their prey the enraged mob beat and hammered at the door with their boots and fists until the appearance of a policeman sent them scurrying down side streets like rats, to their holes. O'Brien was rushed to the Sydney Hospital, where it was found that he had been shot in the groin. Questioned at the hospital he stated that he did not. know his assailants. “If you get the mob that has been clearing up around the railway,’’ he said, referring to a previous outbreak of gang warfare, “ you will get the man who shot mo through.” The police raced to the vicinity of the shooting and made a systematic search of the locality, and two hours later came upon one of the men they wanted. He was hiding in the stairway of a house well known to the police because of its doubtful residents. But as soon as he was sighted by the police he made off over the roof tops. Two shots were fired at him but he disappeared. Later detectives arrested two men in the city. It is admitted by the police that they have not vet arrested the man -who d’d the actual shooting, but they have charged the two men in custody with having conspired and agreed to murder O'Brien. Before the court the police prosecutor stated that prior to the shot being fired one of the men called out, “ Pour it in co him.” while me ether said. “Stick it into him” The Magistrate asked if that was conspiracy. Tho Police Prosecutor said that the men charged were alleged to have, kicked O'Brien when he was on the ground, but there was something more even than that. Something happened between the tinie of a quarrel earlier in the day and the shooting at night, and it was on that that tho chares was being based. The men are now on remand and it will probably bo some time before the police will be ready to proceed with the case.