THE HOOLIGAN TERROR.

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 15000, 27 November 1900, Page 3

THE HOOLIGAN TERROR.

DRASTIC MEASURES WANTED TO STAMP OUT RUFFIANISM.

A reign of terror exists in the East-end of London. The Hooligiins again infest the public highways. Peaceful pedestrians are struck down und murdered in cold blood. Houses and shops are rifled of their contents. Incipient anarchy permeates the district, and tho police are powerless to grapple with the evil. With tho shortening autumn days, these human pests emerged, bat fashion, from their seclution. From hopfields and country fairs, from seashore and farmyard, they returned to the whirlpool of London streets, a menace to the metropolis more terrifying than fog and more dangerous than pestilence.

They laugh at the police. Imprisonment has no terors for them. An ordinary police-court sentence they regard its a mere diversion. And they glory in the teror they create.

VIGILANCE COMMITTEES,

Against the helplessness of police and magistracy the residents of infested districts talk of vigilance committees, arm themselves with stout cudgels, prepare to take tho law in their own hands and at least exercise the Englishman's privilege of selling hij life dearly. An illustration of the methods of these disreputables was shown in an inquest- at Shoreditch, just before the last mail leftEngland. Charles Hiscoke, a youth of Bcthnalgreen, was walking along Harwur Street, Kingshind Road. As he passed two lads someone called "Good night. Hiscoke continued on his way. turning to see who filled. A moment later two roughs were upon him. There was a flourish ot knives, and the poor lad fell on his face, stabbed to death. . Who his assailants were, none oi the witnesses at tho inquest could tell. But that they answered the comprehensive description 'of "Hooligans" ali agreed, the coroner's jury in rendering a vcidict. of "Wilful murder" against persons unknown, hoped the police, might a i rest- the miscroants. But there the matter rests. Still another victim was the subject oi a coroner's inquiry at East London. An unknown- man was admitted to f lie M . George's-in-the-Easb Infirmary half-dead from ill-usage. Before he was able to make a statement he died. The post-mor-tem examination showed the body bniiM'i from, head tv foot, the skull frauUired in

several places, tbe marvel being that anyone could live to lei'ch the hosp tal a;. or such treatment. But Uie strangest p..rt ol the story n.i.s to follow. Several witness spoke of seeing the poor fellow leaning against the railings of the Willow Street. Board School, but no one appeared to think much about it. The w.fc of a bter-house keeper said she heard quarrelling in the street, "bat rows aud fb'hts were so frequent" she tock no notice. Several constables passed the s»ot without seeing him, and when eventually one good Samaritan in policeman's uniform stooped to examine the human wreck lying insensible in the roadway, he found the man's socks, vest, and shirt had been stripped from him. The jury discovered that the man died from his injuries, but how inflicted they were unablo to say. PREVENTATIVE MEA SURES. Litfle wonder that in face of crime like this citizens talk of risking even the penalty for carrying concealed weapons as a lesser evil than being brought face to face with a group of armed Thugs ahd being compelled to fight for dear life. How far they may' look to the magistracy for ass stance was pitifuliy shown in a «ise heard by Mr Rose, the West London maA young ruffian, named Joseph Mac Williams, was charged witli assaulting a, win-dow-cleaner, named George Elliott, while Die later was assisting a police constablle in the execution of his duty. The officer was attempting to arrest two women, when MacWilliums interfered. In the subsequent scuffle both the policeman and the window-cleaner were thrown to the ground, kicked in the back, and generally badly handled. "He belongs to a gang of Hooligans," said the constable in court, after evidence of the prisoner's guilt had been abundantly forth-coming. Wiii-ii everybody in court was expecting v sentence of twelve months, at least, and regretting that a hundred lashes a month could not bo included, Mr Rose threw a wet blanket on the proceedings. "One month with hard labour" was the sentence he imposed. And until magistrates are authorised to order wholesalo Hoggings the Hooligan terror will continue to flourish.