SYDNEY GANGSTERS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17229, 8 April 1930, Page 11

SYDNEY GANGSTERS

RAIDED BY POLICE

ONE MAN SHOT DEAD

SYDNEY'. March 26. A gang mado a descent early yesterday morning upon a house in Riley stret, .Surry Hills, and the dramatic events which followed resulted in a. man being fatally shot. John William Prendergast. 23, of Rand wick, described as a si iif • s fireman, whose name figures in the police records, was removed from the house in a dying condition. The attack upon the house, was accompanied by a great commotion, which aroused the neighborhood. Police in a, fast ear rushed to the spot, which is regarded as being within the police “danger stone.” Four arrests were made. Mrs. Kate Parry, also known as Kate Leigh and Kate" Lee. has been charged with murder. and three men—-two arrested in a motor ear, cruising near Sydney Hospital, and one arrested at the hospital—have been charged with having assaulted Mrs. Barry with intent to murder her. It, is significant that a number of men raided Mrs. Barry s house on Sunday looking for a, man whom they said they would “deal with. ’ In that encounter Mrs. Barry was assaulted, and one of her eves was blackened. At the Oarlinghmsl police station later Mrs. Barry said that she did not wish to take action, though she desired the police to caution her attackers. THE RAIDERS ARRIVE. Yesterday morning the raiding party arrived in a motor ear. which was pulled iij) a short distance from Mrs. Barry’s house. No. 104 Riley street. I he men alighted, and while one man directed operations and also kept watch up and down tie' street, the others attempted to break into the front of the house, the bottom portion of which is conducted as a small shop. One man eventunly gained an entry, and was flung out again by someone inside. The raiders then went, to the rear, shattered windows with pieces of coal, and smashed in the back door with a long piece of timber which they used as a battering ram. They proceeded through the house, overturning and smashing the furniture, and then commenced to mount the stairs to the second floor.

All this was clone very swiftly._ Hie men apparently had their mission mapped out. and intended not to waste enough time to permit Uieiij capture by the police. Neighbors, who had been aroused, were running about excitedly, many of them endeavoring to ascertain what was actually occurring in the Barry house. One telephoned for police assistance. In the meantime the men had almost mounted the staircase when they were warned to retire. “We want you and said. Then a, shot was fired, and Pvcndergast fell backwards with a terrible bullet wound in the stomach. The other men hesitated momentarily, and then bolted from the premises, with Prendergast reeling from side to side, his hands pressed io his stomach, staggering after them. “Wait for me. he is said to have cried. Then lie roleapsed in nil nllevway, where he was found by the police. The other men sprang into the ear in which tliev had arrived, and clashed from the locality. Later a man called at Sydney Hosnilal to inquire concerning the condition of Prendergast. He was arrested. Two others in a motor car the vicinity of the hospital as though awaiting someone, were apprehended by a. police patrol. POLICE STORY OF SHOOTING. Later Mrs. Kate Barry appeared at the, Central Police Court, where the events of tlm morning were related by Detective-Sergeant Lynch, who played an important part in the police hunt for (lie raiders. Mrs. Barry was charged with having murdered John William Prendegast, and she was remanded for 14 days, bail being allowed. Requesting bail, Mr. Abigail, for the accused, said that his client had gotinto touch with the polieo on Sunday, and told them that, several men had broken and entered her house and wrecked the place. They suspected her of living protection to a man who had been Crown witness in another case. “They got away, and early this morning.”' said Mr. Abigail, “several, men came to her place in a car and climbed up into a back room, ostensiolj in search of a Crown witness. As Hie police appeared, the men got away. The police believe that the woman has .riven them the correct version of the facts. I ask that in Hie circumstances hail for a reasonable amount tie allowed.” , , Mr. Perry, S.M. : But what are (he facts? Detective-Sergeant Lynch: As far as we know, four or six men went to this woman’s house in Riley street, East Sydney, early this morning. They broke aiid entered,' throwing a brick through a window, and throwing over a wardrobe which was in front of it. limy threatened the woman’s life, and the life of tlie man for whom they were looking. Barry fired a shot from a pearifle, and the bullet struck Prendegast in (be stomach. The deceased go out into a lane, where the notice found him, and subsequently died m the Sydney Hospital. An inspection of the premises by Hie police bore out the ■Aatement of the woman. Winnows were broken, and the furniture thrown about. On Sunday morning a similar attempt was made, on tier place, when Harry complained to the police. On that‘ occasion tlm woman said that d the men were spoken to and told jo keen away from the place Hint would satisfy her. The woman also told the nolire that stie had tired the shot m self-defence. Sergeant Hart: In the circumstances we do not. object to hail, your Worship. This is an exceoHinal « «so. Mr. Perry granted bail—sell m LoUJ. or two in Clso, or one in £3OO. H w'is ■dso made a condition of had that the woman should report to Darlinglmrst station about 4 p.m. every day Joseph Dudley Prendergast. LI. restaurant proprietor Albert Edward Clnisfi.in Ceorre Bummalls. 32. laborer, and Frederick Sydney Lee. 42. engineer, were charged with having, on March c,7. broken and entered the dwellinghouse of Kathleen Barry, at 104 Riley sired , and • assaulted Kathleen Barry, with intent to murder her. Hail was allowed, each in £3OO. or two in £l5O.