YOUTH WHO RAN AWAY

Waikato Times, Volume 114, Issue 18986, 1 July 1933, Page 14 (Supplement)

YOUTH WHO RAN AWAY

An Amazing Story of an Edgar Wallace Drama

“ Under a Gun ” Remark.

That a lad of 18 was approached by a man who dressed him up in a smart suit of clothes, shaved him, powdered his face, and then sent him out to play a part in what was described as an Edgar Wallace drama, was the amazing allegation made at Liverpool. In the dock were Martin Cockbain, 32, commercial traveller, of Liverpool, and Symone Cockbain, 21, his wife, and they were accused of inciting Ernest George Abrahams to steal a motorcar.

rented by Mrs Cockbaln. The next stage in this Edgar Wallace drama, continued Mr Bishop, was for Cockbain and Abrahams to go into Church Street, Liverpool. After a time a suitable motor-car pulled up outside a shop. The driver got out and Cockbain then told Abrahams that he would follow the driver and when he gave a signal by touching the back of his head Abrahams was to jump into the motor-car and drive it to the garage. .. Cockbain entered a shop after the driver, and a moment later came out and gave the appropriate signal. But Abrahams had thought better of the part he was to play. He took to his heels and ran to the police. Acting on instructions, Abrahams returned to the house in Upper Parliament Street that night. The Cockbains were evidently suspicious, and the man said to his wife: “If he has split on me I will kill him.” Mrs Cockbain said: “Well, let him prove himself a crook by getting a motoroar to-night." Detectives’ Ruse. It was arranged that Abrahams should .go to a cinema, obtain a car, and bring it to the agrage. “Abrahams left on this mission, added Mr Rishop, "and sure enough later that night a large motor-car did draw up outside the garage in Rathbone Street. But it was not a stolen car. It was a motor-car belonging to the Liverpool C.I.D. Flying Squad, and inside it was a detective. “ The two accused immediately oame up to the car, and Mrs Cockbain was looking inside when she was seized from behind by another detective. She shouted: ‘Scram, Dan, scram I’ Martin Cockbain immediately ran away, but was chased by another detective and caught.” Cockbain and his wife were remanded in custody for a week.

Mr J. R. Bishop, prosecuting, related that Abrahams was in the Labour Exchange at Leece Street, Liverpool, when Cockbain went up to him and offered to find him work. He took him to a house in Upper Parliament Street, where he introduced him to his wife. But before doing so and while waiting for the door to be opened he said to the youth in a whisper: “Act as though you were my long lost friend.” Then as the door opened he said in a loud voioe: “Hello, Ernie, how long have you been here? " They entered the house together, went on Mr Bishop, and Cookbain gave the youth a smart suit of olothes, shaved him, powdered his faoe, put oil on his hair, and then proceeded to unfold his scheme. £7 a Week. He told Abrahams he would have no difficulty in making £7 a week by driving him and his wife in a motorcar, going to London and other places. He warned him, however, that he would be “under a gun."

Mr Bishop alleged that Cockbalu then told Abrahams that they wanted to get a motor-car. The scheme was to keep watch in the busy streets and when a likely car stopped and the driver got out Abrahams was to get in the oar and drive it to a garage in Rathbone Street, which had been