GUNMEN “CONVERTED.”

Hokitika Guardian, 20 February 1932, Page 6

GUNMEN “CONVERTED.”

COFFEY, THE CAR, THIEF

AFTER FOUR YEARS’ GAOL

SYDNEY, Feb. 4.

New South Wales detectives were delighted, ’ although sceptical, at the announcement in a Sydney newspaper thi s week that Earnest James Coffey, notorious .motor-car thief and gunman, had forsaken crime for religion. If, as Coffey says, he has reformed, it will be a surprising metamorphosis, removing from the ranks of criminals a man who was a menace to society and a difficult problem for the police., Coffey’s life of crime began in 1916, after his return to Australia from the war. A motor mechanic of outstanding ability, he soon became the most feared car thief in New South Wales, and so cleverly did lie alter and replace parts in the stolen cars, as well as repairing them, that the police were of ter unable to prove the ownership of the cars, although certain that they were stolen.

Time and again Coffey figured in thrilling chases through the suburbs, pursued by the best police drivers; but he invariably proved him self more than a match for them and escaped. He usually stole cars that could be speeded up, and by this means, as well as by other criminal pursuits, he made a lucrative living.

PLANS FOR SPEED CAR

Six months’ investigation of an intensive nature in 1928 culminated in a surprise raid that cornered Coffey in a blind street near bis own home,. and after a thrilling gun duel with three detectives lie was wounded and arrested. His sentence was four years. He was released just before the new year, and it is now asserted that ho “found religion” at a nightwnteh service.

In his own story in the “Daily Telegraph,” Coffey says that a group of men started him on the path of crime. They stole the cars and he altered them so that they would be saleable safely as used cars. When he was first arrested, the men behnd the scheme let him down by refusing to support his wife, and he broke bail and brought a revolver to scare them into playing the game. This, he said, was the revolver that was in his possession at the time of the duel with detectives: in gaol, he said, he worked every night on Ins great ambition to smash ,the world’s speed- 1 record for cars. Fils plans are almost, perfected, and he is convinc'd that a car built to his design would win the trophy. OTHER CASES. Coffey’s ciise has many parallels in Sydney. An outstanding one. is. that of Mr Earnest Charles Woodward, now manager. o£-.the Methodist Men’s Hostel'Yu the city.

Mr Woodward frankly owns to the title “The Converted Crook”, and says that years ago he could not be trusted with a bag of peanuts. At that time he was of the consort of notorious criminals and a much sought • thief. He and some companions had planned to rob three places in one week, including £750, the life savings of an old woman in a barber’s shop in Redfern, and the organ from the Church of England Mission Hall at Chippendale. It was while he was sitting in a meeting'in the hall, plotting a method by which the organ could be taken out that lie was converted. Since then he has done nothing but mission work, and is one of the most trusted men m the service. A similar case is that of a man who is now caretaker at a Redfern facto',;. He had served 25 years in goal !• r various crimes when his brother pc: - suaded him to join him at a local church revival meeting. A solo by a woman singer started him on the road to repentance, and lie has not slipped back since.

An oft-quoted case of refo■•mat-ion concerns a well-known 'Sydney pickpocket, who attended one of the Chapman -Alexander revival meetings at 11nSydney Town Hall, with the intention of “plying Ids profession.” Once in the hall he became converted and waited until after the meeting to coot*-,* to Dr Chapman. Dr Chapman made the pickpocket take Large of the night’s takings, which the pickpocket returned intact next day. Subsequently Dr Chapman took him hack to America with him, and friends in Sydney were informed some years later that he had become a minister of religion.