SYDNEY’S UNDERWORLD

Hokitika Guardian, 9 July 1930, Page 5

SYDNEY’S UNDERWORLD

FISTS INSTEAD OF GUNS AND

RAZORS,

SYDNEY, June 20.

■• Mr Justice James, who, from his place 'in ‘the..Criminal Court, has been, offering Sydney's underworld some rather wholesome advice, and explaining to them that it would be infinitely better for .themselves and for the community generally if they settled their own quarrels with their fists instead of with guns and razors, is New

South Wales’s most unconventional judge, and is popularly known as ‘‘Cus” James. He takes less time generally to deliver, a judgment than any of Sydney’s other judges, and does not affect the, heavy, solemn judicial air on the bench: ’

It was as a.politician, and as Minister for Education, that he was known as “Gus” (which is short for Augustus). James, and the . name has stuck. His advice to the. underworld about the use of fisticuffs instead of slashing at one another with razors ought to carry weight, for he has always beer, an ardent follower of the noble art ol pugilism. There are few boxing contests of any note in'Sydney that he has not witnessed from. a good seat near the ring at the Stadium. , 'flie story goes that, when Minister for Education, he shocked a class of girls at a. school which he was visiting bv : picking up and examining their sewing, and offering quite sound comments on it. The girl’s all giggled, until lie explained that he had learned to sew when he was young.