MELBOURNE VENDETTA.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 September 1919, Page 11

MELBOURNE VENDETTA.

ANOTHER CHAPTER OPENS. Sydney, Aug. 13. Another chapter in the extraordinary vendetta which has been going on for months in the underworld of Melbourne was written last week, when three persons were conveyed to hospital suffering from revolver shot wounds. This vendetta originated many months ago, apparently as a sequel to a daring jewel robbery. A shop was entered in broad daylight, the assistant trapped, and considerable booty carried off. Smart detective work, however, brought about the apprehension of the thieves. The idea then seemed to gain ground that one section of the gang had "put the other section away." Shooting commenced, and all the many evil characters which infest certain Melbourne suburbs appeared to take sides.

From then on incident followed Incident, Each side stalked the other and shot at sight. Although there was merciless hatred between the two factions, they made common cause against the police, the equal enemy of both. Several persons were injured and one or two murdered, and the police naturally strained every nerve to put an end to this disorder; but they were baffled at every point by the stubborn silence of the men and women concerned and the fear generally entertained towards the gunmen. After midnight recently two constables who were on patrol in Fitzroy suddenly heard seven or eight revolver shots in quick succession. They rushed round a corner, and saw three men running, one of whom they recognised as a wellknown vendetta leader. The three got clear away. At first the people who came swarming round would give no information, and told a series of obvious lies to account for the shooting. Eventually the constables found their way into the small back room of a house, whence they removed two men and a woman, more or less seriously wounded. The room was in great disorder, bottles of beer and cards being scattered about. It appeared that seven or eight men and women were roystering in this room, when a scattered volley of revolver shots came unexpectedly through the window. Most went into the opposite wall, but three found billets in human flesh. The injured people absolutely refused to make any statement to the police, but a few men and women were arre3ted on suspicion.