AUSTRALIAN GRIME-WAVE

Hokitika Guardian, 16 April 1920, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN GRIME-WAVE

DANGEROUS “PUSHES” IN CITIES. SYDNEY, April 7. Sir Charles Wade, formerly Premier, who was pushed out of the Liberal leadership in order that Mr Holman might lead the Nationalists, and who, as a result of political haggling, typical of New South Wales, has been appointed a judge, took his first criminal sessions the other day. A staggering list of cases was put before him—they included a dozen murder charges. The new judge commented strongly upon the disregard for human life which seems to he van aftermath of the war.

The judge pointed to nothing that is not apparent to everyone; the list of crimes of violence is added to almost daily. There was a remarkable number of murders and attempted murders during February, and there was a woman in nearly every case. We seem now to be in the midst of another outbreak —but the “love” motive this time is not so much in evidence. A sailor and his captain had an altercation, and tho sailor deliberately killed the officer with a knife. An elderly rah bit trapper was found with his head battered in, and a young man was later arrested on a charge of murder and robbery. The body of a Russian, who served as an Australian soldier, was found in the Domain with all the appearances of murder. Two women were brought to the hospitals on Friday night from different suburbs. Each appeared to have lieen wounded by a revolver shot.

.break —but the “love” motive tins time is not so much in evidence. A sailor and his captain had an altercation, and tho sailor deliberately killed the officer with a knife. An elderly rah bit trapper was found with his head battered in, and a young man was later arrested on a charge of murder and robbery. The body of a Russian, who served as an Australian soldier, was found in the Domain with all the appearances of murder. Two women were brought to the hospitals on Friday night from different suburbs. Each appeared to have lieen wounded by a revolver shot. An Italian met his wife at the Show on Monday and quarrelled with her, and shot her. The first couple of bullets killed her, others flying wide, very dangerously wounded a young woman in the crowd. The following morning there was a similar occurrence in Pyrxnont. A husband and wife quarrelled, the man drew a revolver and killed /the woman. He managed, however, to get clear away. And there have been other shooting incidents, in most of the cities, too numerous to detail. At the same time, the “push” trouble ( is raising its ugly head. Tlmro have _ been collisions between the police and the “pushes” both in Sydney and Melbourne. Tbe pushes, affected by tbe - prevailing disregard of life and stimulated by tbe doctrines of I .WAV. criminals, are displaying noticeable arrogance and insolence. On Saturday ( night a constable, in Miller’s Point, Sydney ,tried to move on about twenty men and youths who were drinking on the footpath. They attacked him. He fought pluckily, but was badly knocked about when a police posse arrived twenty minutes later and arrested the ring-leaders. On Sunday afternoon, m Carlton, Melbourne, there was a big battle between rival pushes, and two policemen who interfered were attack- _ ed. Help came quickly and they arrested six of the hoodlums.