IN UNDERWORLD VENDETTA.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 15863, 7 July 1919, Page 5

IN UNDERWORLD VENDETTA.

STOKES AGAIN BEFOBE COURT, MELBOURNE, June 28. Henry Stokes, who was charged with having shot at .Henry Slater with intent to muraer, appeared again, at th© City Court to-day, and was remanded till July 1. - Last week, when Stokes was before the court, Slater, refused to give evidence on the ground that it might affect his own case in which .he is charged with having shot Constable Cooper at Fitzroy. This case is at present being heard in the Criminal .Court, Stokes was admitted to bail of one personal security of £IOOO and a surety of £IOOO or two of £SOO. The charge against Stokes arises out of the underworld vendetta in which several persons were shot.

AN AMAZING STORY. WHEN THIEVES FALL OUT. MANY GIMMES OP VIOLENCE. . Further light is now thrown on the extraordinary vendetta of Melbourne’s underworld, which has been responsible for so many acts of violence and shooting incidents for some time past. This vendetta has been the all-absorbiugj topic in Melbourne and its environs for over four months, and the surprising part of the whole business has been • the secrecy observed by the warring factions. They have, it would seem, agreed among themselves that th© fight was, to be conducted without any outside interference, and the last thing contemplated was that the police should be called in to the aid of either side- They agreed also that the police was'their coiamoii enemy, that no matter what happened, even to the length of murder, 'all parties should maintain a rigid silence. Men have been shot as many as nine times in one affray, others have been beaten with bludgeons constructed oWead pipe, but all the injured have replied to police questions with th© same obstinacy—“l will say nothing.” In some police circle* the gangs have become known as the “Oyster Mob.” t By the time the man inside the shop succeeded in raising an alarm, the thieves had disappeared from the neighbourhood. and- although plain-clothes police were among the first to know of the robbery, they were at a loss to decide which way to turn in pursuit. A WITHDRAWN CHARGE, Some time later two men were arrested for that robbery. When the case came before the higher courts the Crown, for reasons best known to the authorities, decided not- to proceed with the charge against one. This fact led to ■a split among the criminals and others acquainted with them, although not actually criminals themselves were involved.

It was assumed that the police were assisted by the man against whom the charge was withdrawn, and one man was selected to draw his attention to the fact that he was believed to be an informer—the meanest of offences in the rules of the underworld. After he had given his evidence in the Criminal Conrt the doomed man went outside to take the air. He was met in a Jane by the avenger,? who immediately started a '‘rough-house.” He was battered and bleeding, fled-from the locality. Later the inoident was reported to the presiding judge. He directed the police to make the roost searching investigation, but the ; victim introduced Hie phrase:. “I will say nothing.” The man charged with the robbery was acquitted. Later, the gang found that the police were before them in a few subsequent enterprises, and believing that some other member was, supplying information to the police, it was decided to find the leakage. Consequently, a second suspect was placed on his trial before a jury made up of members of the gang. Evidence was taken with a “presiding judge-.” The suspect wag wgorously cross-examined and was subsequently discharged. His acquittal, however, was i%t whole-hearted.

THE ETERNAL FEMININE. Some day? later hi a wife, known in a wide circle as “Pretty Redwing,” paid a visit to one of the sly-grog shop® in Fitzroy. She had a merry' time with her friendsi ending up in becor ing sadly intoxicated. While ’ inthat state some fiiend lifted all her jewellery, and when she recovered she was told in the most sneering manner possible that she had been the Hfov’of the party. The statement went the round of-the underworld, and her husband decided that things hgd reached such a pass'that he must break with the gang. He therefore joined with the first suspect, demanding his wife’s jewellery. It was not forthcoming, and threat followed threat. The gang threatened to let Hjght in on the two-up school at Richmond, where the first suspect was reputed to be making at least £2OO a week. ■ V s' . ) “DECLARATION OP WAR.” Diplomatic relations were immediately severed., war was declared, and the first shots fired within a few hours. While Whiting was sleeping at home some .men entered Iris room, and without putting up the lights, fired seven revolver-shots his head. They also struck him with a spanner, and when he was removed to hospital he “oystered.” This assault was followed by an attack’ on , Lewis with revolver butte, and a few days later the police found in a lane at the-back ofDaly’s house three mein, with ’such things as a pea-rifle barrel, revolvers, and lead, pipe wrapped in newspaper. They declared iii the Court that they: were to protect Daly, but other people think that if the police had not arrived at the right time Daly would have had » bad time at the hands of his “protectors.” KILPATRICK’S ROBBERY.

The vendetta, states an Australian correspondent, dates back to the latter portion of last year. Then there was a daring’ robbery in a jewellery establishment . in' Gollins Street., A man entered the shop of Kilpatrick's, Ltd., .-.‘in the busiest portion Of the' day and asked to bo shown temething suitable for a wedding pretent. He selected arj article and paid for it in-notes. The next "day he came back, and said his wife did not like his selection. He was instructed to oh tain: something more expensive, and after some trouble the salesman managed to have him take a more expensive gift for the bridal couple. He tendered notes of a large denomination, whichthe galesman Vould not at that moment cash. the man found out ■what he wanted/for the salesman explained that he was alone always -at that hour, btit if the 'purchaser would conie in a little later the manager would be there, and no tpouhle would foe experienced in cashing the large notes. The man went away, and came hack at, the hcpir suggested and completed" his