MASKED BOY’S SECRET.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12288, 10 April 1918, Page 2

MASKED BOY’S SECRET.

ARMOURY OF EXPLOSIVES.

“ Hands Up ” to Police.

_ More like a chapter from a sensational novel than an incident in real life was the story told at Middlesex Sessions when sentence of throe years’ detention under the Borstal System was passed on Howard Victor Enron, eighteen, and Cyril Henry Mnmforcl, eighteen, hotn photographers, who pleaded guilty to seven charges of burglary at Bush Hill Park, Enlicld. Between £3OO and £4OO worth of jewellery was stolon. It was stated that Enron had been assisting his mother in a photographic business, and his father was a; German who was interned. Both lads had served apprenticeships at the. wellknown firm of Lafayette’s. At Enron’s house 11b of explosive gelignite and a quantity of blasting powder wore found, together with some bottles of sulphuric acid, and ten rifles, stolen from a volunteer drill hall. The explosives were stolen from Lyme Regis. At tho police station they wore found in possession of hla.ck masks, and Enron had a. loaded revolver. Both had life-preservers, daggers, and a sheath, and a bottle of ether. While at the station, Mumford pointed a revolver at a police officer, and said, “Hands up!” He was disarmed, and the revolver was found to bo loaded, "Police officers found in the possession of ono of the prisoners a remarkable secret agreement of twelve clauses which is supposed to have been presented to new members of the gang, to be signed and sworn to, among them: — " I do hereby agree to obey and observe all orders and commands issued to me by superior officers for the period of three mouths from date of signature. Ido also agree to the following clauses.” The clauses refer to tho necessity for secrecy and silence regarding tho operations of the gang, obedience to superiors, sharing proceeds. rescuing members apprehended, and finally concludes with the following : “ To secure the following articles for personal use:—Revolver and ammunition. rifle and ammunition, mask's, electric torch and spot light attachment, lifo-presersor, howlp knife and sheath, skeleton keys, and lock' picks.--Signed rules and accept punishment if I fail.”