“THE GANGSTERS.”

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, 17 July 1930, Page 11

“THE GANGSTERS.”

ALLEGED FIRE GANG COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. By Telegraph—Press Association. HAMILTON, July 16. All concerned in the wholesale incendarism and theft and destruction of motor cars, nine young men styling themselves as “The Gangsters,” who for several months had been terrorising the Cambridge and Waikato districts, appeared in the Hamilton Magistrate’s Court, and were committed to the Supreme Court at Hamilton to be dealt with. The total value of buildings and cars destroyed involve approximately £SOOO. The well of the Court was crowded, including a large contingent from Cambridge. The names of the accused are:— Alfred Donnington Brown (23). Edward Daniel Brown (21). John Meredith (28). John Vickers Featherstone (18). Harvey Charles Hall (22). Sidney Walter Goodall (21). Herzel Edward Orr (21). George Gordon Stewart Simpson (21). David Edward Harrison (19). It is alleged against the gang that they set alight to the Rottuna Hall, value £1600; Frankton West Hall, value £800; a house on Thorndon Road, Cambridge; a dwelling in Alpha Street, Cambridge; a house in Albert Street, Hamilton East; and a shed in Hukanui road. The burning of cars destruction by fire of two hay stacks at Ngaruawahia; theft of a car belonging to Henry Jones were other charges. One car, after being stolen, was pushed over the Narrows Bridge at Tamahere.

Featherstone was concerned in the greatest number of alleged offences, there being 19 charges against him. E. j D. Brown came next with 16. A. D. Brown with 14, Hall with 13, Goodall with 7, Meredith with 5. Uimpson with 2, and Harrison and Orr with one each. Five of the accused were charged with setting alight to an unoccupied house in Albert Street. In this case, Detective White said the five accused admitted in a statement having participated in setting both the house and a car cn fire. Hall and Featherstone, it was st ted, set fire to the house, the others remaining in the car. All returned Ir.tei, after the Brigade arrived, and v arched the place burn. In a written statement signed by all accused, it was mentioned to at some of the party called at a house in Albert Street, where two girls l'vrd. The girls mentioned that r.n empty house was a harbour for rats, and suggested that it was “up to” /isitors lo “do the dirty work.” The girls said they would like to see the last cf the house, and asked them to burn it I down, and they acted on the suggest- | ion.