YOUTHFUL GANGSTERS.

Wairarapa Age, 29 August 1933, Page 3

YOUTHFUL GANGSTERS.

MELODRAMATIC ASSAULT AT CASHMERE HILLS. SEQUEL TO A QUARREL. CHRISTCHURCH, August 28. An exciting affair is reported, to have occurred at Rossmore Terrace, Cashmere Hills, on Saturday night, when three masked youths waylaid a fourth youth, dragged him into a shed, and. roughly handled him. The parties are believed to have been friends, but they quarrelled subsequently. Two arrests have been made. A melodramatic touch was lent to the incident by the fact that the assailants wore hoods that masked their heads and faces and covered their shoulders, something after the style of the habiliments worn by the Ku Klux Klan. Broad sashes tied round the waists completed the costume. The ambush was carefully planned, the three youths waiting in the darkness in Rossmore Terrace and seizing ■their victim from behind before he could raise a finger to defend himself. A sack was pulled roughly over his head, and he was bundled along the road to a shed. Then the sack, was removed. A scuffle ensued. The muzzle of a shotgun carried by one of the assailants was jabbed into his face during the fracas, and caused a -wound under one eye. Overpowered by the odds of three to one, the victim was forced to submit. Some words were exchanged, and then a heavy stick was brought down on the victim’s skull. The captive youth dropped to the ground, feigning unconsciousness. His assailants then made off. A few minutes later the police were informed. — 1 (P.A.) THEFT CHARGES. FOUR LADS IN COURT'. CHRISTCHURCH, August 28. As a sequel to the Cashmere Hills assault, four youths faced Mr. E. D. Mosley, S.M., this morning. Phillip Percival Sharp, aged 17, was charged with the theft of 6s, the property of Thomas Allan Crawshaw. William Joseph Hallins, aged 18, and Stanley Thomas Allan Crawshaw, aged 17, were jointly charged with assaulting Phillip Percival Sharp, and Norman Frederick Fletcher, aged 18, was charged with breaking and entering St. Mary’s Church, Merivale, on August 25, and committing theft. All were rematded until September 5. The police said that all the accused were members of a clique about which there was a suggestion of the “Kelly Gang ’ ’ or Ku Klux Klan. Sharp was assaulted for breaking an order by the gang. There were other charges pending of theft, breaking and entering and car conversion, and Sharp, was also involved in them. After Sharp was bound and gagged, his assailants, said the Chief Detective, stuck a pin into him to see if he was dead or not, and then they made off — (P.A.)