RACE GANGS FIGHT

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14769, 7 October 1921, Page 7

RACE GANGS FIGHT

—.— ATTACKS WITH IRON OARS. 500 MEN WATCH TRAINS. Appnronlly fho ugly feud between London and Birmingham rival gangs tliat infest the racecourses is working i!s way all round England, for Bath lias been the scene of their latest dealing in savagery. Many encounters between them took place in various parts of the city, and 'on the racecourse at Lansdown. Hammers, iron bars, life-preservers, and bludgeons were freely used; and, as usual, people have fallen victims whether they have anything to do with gangs or not. This time five men were seriously injured, their names being; Alfred Solomon, bookmaker, Long Acre, London: Charles Bild, ids clerk, Newport Buildings, Charing Cross Road, London; George Hall, haakrnaker, Windmill Street, Brighton: Frank Heath, Isinglcworlh Road, Brighton; an Italian, of London. Slows with Hammer.

Seemingly, I Fin attacks were part nf a well-organised plan of campaign by the Birmingham men. for during the. morning nearly 500 of them stationed lliemselves near the Great Western Hallway Station, where they scrutinised Ihr large crowds of men coming from the trains from London. In this way they hoped to pick out Ihe rival gang, which is composed largely of foreigners from the Last, Knd. The first attack occurred in SI on Street. Some men hustled anolh i small crowd, and hammers and sticks were used. A bookmaker was felled by a blow from behind, and Ids clerk, who also was attacked, managed to struggle to the Grand Pump Hoorn Hotel, where his wounds were tended.

Six men were seen to strike the bookmaker while he was on the (ground, one blow being with a, hammer. A Bath man jumped to the rescue, and knocked I lie man with the hammer into Ihe road. Alfred Solomon sustained severe scalp wounds, and Charles Rild was injured about Ids head, and had a fractured linger and cut knee. In Lnnsdnwn Hoad, nearer Ihe course, Frank Heath, nf Riichton. who had arrived to lake, up employment under a bookmaker named Hall, was assaulted. His assailants jumped from a motor coach and attacked him. He. 100, had scalp wounds and a fractured finger. His employer. George Hall, was assaulted in Lansdown Road, and sought pollen protection. Bands of ruffians boarded throe motor roaches, and used field-glasses to locale their victims. They compelled the drivers to stop near St. Stephen's Church, where, swarming down, they attacked men walking In the races. Revolvers Drawn. Ollier gangs stopped (heir conveyances a I Ihe Hare and Hounds Hotel, and carried out similar attacks. During other incidents revolvers weiv drawn, lint no firing is reported to have taken place. hi the silver ring on Hie course the rival gangs came, into collision. An Italian from London was badly injured, being twice struck on his "head with a hammer. Subsequently Henry Solomon was charged with having an unregistered revolver in ids possession. He said lie produced it in selfdefence. A remand was ordered.