THE SEAMY SIDE

Hokitika Guardian, 15 December 1928, Page 2

THE SEAMY SIDE

TALUS TOLD TO THE MAGISTRATE

Shopbreaking is the popular pastime of Sliellield’s unemployed young men. These idle youths usually work in gangs and raid 'lock-up shops in the small hours. Scores have been caught recently by the police, and the Recorder at the sessions, by severe and progressive sentences, aims at stamping out. or at least discouraging, what lias become a scourge to Sheffield trades-

men. Sheflield is notorious for its gangs dt young fellows who have learned just suflicient work to dislike it, and the police are kept busy day and night checking their raids and feuds. Detective-Sergeant Milner and (.’onstable .iudd between them bagged five prisoners early on Sunday morning, and about the same time another detective gathered in three more. Constable Judd played hide-and-seek at lUil) a.m. with IJarold, a fruiterer, in Enion Lane.

Harold gave a signal with his left hand and the officer followed him to

where lie found a door slightly ajar. There was a scuffle inside and Constable Judd, entering, found Harold—so he said—taking cutlery from his coat and placing it under some old clothes under the stairs.

Meanwhile Detective-Sergeant Milner was having an interesting interview, also in Union Lane, with James, Richard, Arthur, and Gertrude. Gertrude who wore a purple dress, ran upstairs when the detective entered, hut he followed her and found her in bed still wearing the purple dress. There were the remains of a generous feast on the table, and, searching the kitchen, the detective found a quantity of cake and half a ham which he suspected had been stolen, James took the responsibility for tLie provisions and declared that the others were innocent. Both Arthur and Richard are at work, which is unusual in these cases.

Woman are given favourable treatment in the Sheffield police courts. Gertrude of the purple dress did not stand in the dock with the three young men. hut occupied a desk facing them.

In this differentiation of the sexes the Sheffield police are very chivalrous. Sm are the magistrates, who granted hail to Gertrude. Harold could not

obtain bail; nor could Arthur or Diehard. Richard complained that lie would lose his job, and Arthur said he would get into trouble with his mother. Arthur was right. His mother rose in court and made quite a lot of trouble.

Diehard the second, Albert, and Herbert have not worked for ever such a long time A detective found a large quantity of woman's clothing, two gramophones, and two suit-cases in Richard the second’s bedroom

After placing Richard the second in safe keeping the detective went out and brought in Albert and Demon.

All the young men in the eases nioiftioned were remanded in custody, and according to hints from the police more voung men were toHollow them into the Jock.

The court was filled by unemployed youths who were keenly interested in the early morning activities of the detectives.

Many of the raided lock-up shops are in dark and quiet streets, and the officers have no easy task in catching red-handed the thieves, who work systematically in gangs and employ

watchers who use a code of signals while Sheffield sleeps. * \ * * *

The evening performance was over in the Queen’s Theatre alien the real life programme began. It was a comedy m three reels, and the chief performers Were Annie, her father Tom. and Tom's The rest of the company consisted of son-in-law William.

Tom’s family, the operator, musicians, firemen, and a number of attendants. The story really opened throe mouths ago. when Annie was refused admission to the theatre for insulting an attendant. The three months passed without incident, and wo discovered Annie and her family in the gallery.

There was a close-up view of an attendant informing Annie that she must never enter the place again—-and then the knockabout fun began. .Several attendants and the operator got mixed up with old ’font, and his family and the entire company rolled down the stairs, the had language “going on as usual.” as a witness natively put it.

Annie put in some strong emotional work in the first act, which sufficed, however, for the absence of Mary, the juvenile lead, who had slipped out to a fried fish shop.

The '.second reel saw William caked suddenly from his home, dashing down the street without his hat, coat, and waistcoat, and stopping occasionally to tie his shoe laces, which were tripping him up to the joy of,a crowd of sn. boys. I it "It "K 1

j William, learning that his wife was | in peril, rushed right into the picture outside the theatre and hit on the chest the first attendant he met. Firemen, musicians, and attendants did good work as a walking-011 crowd in

i this act. | Heel No. Three found Old Tom the : star. Old Tom had been wanting to hit somebody all night, but first his 1 arms were held by his wile and then , by Che operator. When, eventually, lie got them free he searched round eager. , |y for an attendant, and finding one conviontly near hit. him fairly and squarely Old Tom was looking for any attendants that William could spare when the liremeu. musicians and operaI tor closed in and cut out both ot them. I Tim cost of the entertainment to Old Tom and W’illian was 10s. each, plus the nriee of Annie’s torn blouse, which William pulled out <>l his pocket and displayed to the Bench.