UNDESIRABLE CHARACTERS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6937, 29 October 1900, Page 4

UNDESIRABLE CHARACTERS.

-i » ENEMIES OF LAW AND ORDER. SOjNIE VISITORS TO CHRISTCHURCH. [Br Oub Special Reportek.] Tha city .where rich and poor, high and low aire congregated, and where the wealth Of .the country is represented, must also be the haunt of *the pickpocket, burglar, plun- ( derer, pilferer and .others of the -criminal class ; the fresh air of the -country is not to their liking. The attractions of the next three months in Christchurch are drawing undesivaiblo characters into the city as honey draws the ibees, and every day sees the already long list of the criminal kind increased. Many notorious members of the ohss from all parts of the colony are kno-mi by the police to be already ia the town, and others from fche sister colonies are also arriviug. No doubt " Carnival Week ' usually brings its complement of undesirable characters into the town, but this year the added -attractions are causing many moreof a much iworse stamp to migrate hither in pursuit of their prey. Their methods are legion, and from the female decoy to the " assault and robbery' man " all are intent on acquiring other people's property. On Saturday afternoon a gentleman, just after receiving some money in a puWic institution, was asked 'by a stylishly dressed young lady "to address an envelope for her, 1 as she had gloves on." Willingly he performed the trifling service, and they drifted into conversation, when he was called aside by a friend who had witnessed the occurrence, ' and informed, much to his amazement,- that | his chance acquaintance was one of the most notorious female " smashers " in the colony. The " swell mobsmen. " vire in plenty, the ," confidence trick " men, the . " two up " ] school, the common pilferer, the adept pick- ! pocket and the betting tout are all here, bufc these are not the worst, for numbers of the more desperate criminal class are in town and others are coming. Their work begins when the gloom of night has settled down, and they set out to seek plunder when the. city is asleep and shrouded in darkness, as it is in the early hours, thanks to the frugal policy of the City Council. A rusty hinge, a weak lock ■or & defective window bar is what they seek, and the rest js simple. Th&fc there is need for amendment in the laws giving the iguardians of the city power to deail with the undesirable characters who frequent the dark 'by-ways is "becoming more and more apparent. Time after time persons brought before the Magistrate om charges of vagrancy escajpe on a quibble in the evidence. As the law stands at present hundreds of undesirable characters who have ■well deserved imprisonment are able to laugh at -the efforts of the police to protect the public. Suspicious characters may be seen almost nightly loitering in the darker streets and in -the vicim'ty xrf the public squares. Probably the mainy warnings that have been issued will have the effect df making citizens and visitors careful, and the police, who, with the detective force, are to be strongly reinforced during the next three months, may be relied on to make every effort to rid the city of the parasites of civilisation. . The " assault and robbery " criminal; will be carefully watched, but those whose work necessitates late hours would do well to exercise caution in the darker streets and thoroughfares.