THE LONDON SENSATION

Timaru Herald, Volume XCIV, Issue 14392, 6 January 1911, Page 5

THE LONDON SENSATION

ONLY TWO MEN CONCERNED, NEWSPAPER, COMMENT. Press Association—By Tel.— Copyright. LONDON, Jan. 4. The police announced that a third body, that of Peter tho Painter, lias been found in tho ruins. Tho others have been identified as Fritz, and rn associa'to named Jacobs. A later messago states that owing to the frngmentary recovery of the remains it is now definitely announosd that only two bodies have been, found. Peter tho Paiutor ia stffl uneaptured. • THE FIRE. There is definite evidence that tho defenders SGt lire to the house. Among the ruins two large automatio pistol's were found. Sixteen police, numbers of troops, civilians and firemen are being treated for injuries caused by falling debris. THE MEN WANTED. The police believe that Peter vhe Painter and Fritz did not reside together, bui kept close communication between each other by means of women, including Bessie Gershon, "n whose room in Sydney Street, the police discovered both Fritz and Peter. Bessie Gershon was arresjed prior to j the attack on the house.' ] The "Daily Telegraph'' says that an English girl was hired to tho house hy a couple of foreigners and ill-treated. Information was subsoquontly given to tlra police and the men were identified as Fritz and Peter tho Painter. A third man named Kozon was also concerned in tlio affair. This led to tho raid. DISCUSSION ON ALIENS. Earl Cawdor, in a critical letter to the "Times," states that it is to bo hoped that there are not many such desperadoes in the East of London, -ior is it veryjikely that there are. The "Daily News" protests against any possible attempt to inderibify East End aliens as a class with desperadoes such as th : s gang, who are a problem by themselves. What is needed is notoriously an efficient police deterrent to their landing and the continuation of the Government's policy of expelling criminal aliens. Other newspapers express the public's widespread stupefaction and indignation at the abuse of British hospitality. They demand a rigid supervision of aliens. / The Press generally demands a closer scrutiny and more drastic treatment of aliens and more protection agninst desperadoes.

Sir Robert Anderson, formerry head of the Criminal Investigation Deparflurnt, insists upon the introduction of a stronger Aliens Act.

The newspapers recall tho similarity of t*b Jubilee street soige to the Cato S'ro-t conspiracy of Feburarv 23rd, 1820.

[The Cato Street conspiracy was formed by a gang of desperate men, headed by Arthur Thistlewood, assembled in Cato Street, Edgeware Road, London, who proposed the assassination of the Ministers of tho Crown at a Cabinet dinner. Thoy were betrayed and arrested, 23rd February, 1820, and Thistlcwood and four othera were executed as traitors.]

THE SHOOTING CONDEMNED. The "Times" says the fact of a detachment of Guards sweeping ihe streets wi'.'h bullets because two anarchists were firing with pistols from a house from .which thoy could not escape, needs more explanation than :'s yet forthcoming. Other papers express similar opinions. A JUDGE'S COMMENT. Received 10.30 D.m., Jan. sth. LONDON, Jan'. 5. Mr Lowes, Recorder, at Salisbury quarter Sessions said the Houndsditch sad occurrence in London raised the question whether the very wis©. provisions of the Aliens Act, which ho was afraid had. fallen into disuse, should not bo enforced and everybody demand it, so as to prevent alien criminals landing. He did not wish to see alien political refugees refused the asylum hitherto provided, but there was such a thing as going too far, and allowing the refuse of other countries to enter without any question whatever was going too far. FATHER VAUGHAN CONCURS. Father Bernard Yaughan, speaking in London, said all would agree that foreign desperadoes must be stopped making England a spawning ground, breeding vice for foreign exportation. The Aliens Act had not sufficient restraining force. In the East End, there was not work or food enough to go round, and if any starved 1 surely it ought not to be members of our own family, but the undesirable lawless alien. FRENCH AND GERMAN OPINION. While French public opinion and newspapers warmly applauded the British authorities for the prompt and determined measures taken in Sydney Street, and welcome the suggestion that the Aliens Act should be more r'gorously applied to tighten the m-whes of the net against undesirables, Gorman comments on tho subject are very diverse, according to political predilections. The *' Lokal Anzeiger," discussing the formidable array of police and military with a Maxim, to capture a couple of criminals, compares the action of the London authorities to shooting sparrows with a cannon. It hopes- the incident will lead to the abolition of what is described the foolish right of asylum.

The "Berliner Tageblatfc" like the "Neue Frqi Press©" of Vienna, strenuously protests against Ifo idea of restricting tho right of asylnm, which hitherto has been one of free Britain's chief glories.

WEAPONS IN THE RUINS. Received 12.30 a.m., Jan. Cth. LONDON, Jan. 5. Twelve Mauser and several Drowning pistols were found in the ruins of-tho Sydney Street house.' THE DEAD MEN. Of the two dead mon, only Fritz Svaars has been identified. The police are eouvinced that both woro piesent at Houndsditch. Twenty detectives are searching for Peter in tho East End. It is uncertain whether the companions of Slorosntzeff regarded him as the loader of the gang. THE HOME SECRETARY. Mr Winston Churchill has decided not to issue any Homo Office report on the siego. He is considering, with the assistance of tho chiefs of tho Metropolitan and City police and others, what future measures are necessary to cope with alien criminals. Inquiries show that members of foreign clubs in London generally favour tho registration of aliens, with a view to excluding those unable to produce satisfactory credentials from their country of origin.