MELBOURNE LARRIKINS.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9125, 21 April 1908, Page 7

MELBOURNE LARRIKINS.

THE HEART AND ARROW GANG. The Melbourne police have just discovered in the suburbs of Foots cray the existence of a band of juvenile larrikins, who have become associated for the purpose of carrying on lawless practices—principally thieving. They are under formal rules, are presided over by a duly elected leader, and their organisation is marked by fantastic rites. Some weeks ago, reports the Argus, a youth, aged about 19, was arrested in Foofccray for a minor offence. He had a peculiar tattoo mark on his left arm —a heart pierced with an arrow. He was convicted, and received a short sentence. ; The tatooing was noticed by the police, but no partioulatr significance was attached to it at the time. Later two' other youths, who had been known to the police for some time were arrested for stealing. At the watohhouse a tattoo mark was observed on the back of the left hand of one of them. On being closely examined by':‘the police it was found to be a heart pierced by an arrow. “Hullo, what’s this” asked the arresting constable. “The ’eart and arrow,” replied the prisoner, with a note of pride in his tone.

“ What is it for,” asked the constable.

The prisoner perceived that he had gone roo far. He stubbornly refused to give any further information. The suspicions of the police were aroused, however, and they questioned the second prisoner. By dint of a little diplomacy they made him believe that his companion in crime had “given the whole show away,” and he made a partial confession. On the calf of the left leg was found the tatoo mark, and he admitted, he belonged to “the ’eart and arrow click.” Both prisoners were convicted and sentenced. From the admissions of these youths and from information gleaned elsewhere the police have learned a good deal about the Heart and Arrow Society. It has been in existence for several months. Its object is the “promotion of crime. ” The membership is limited to twelve. There are rites connceited with the organisatioo. A “totem mark” is tatooed either on the left leg, or left arm, or on the back of the left hand. The position of the mark appears to indicate the rank of the member. The leader, it is believed, has two marks -one on the left arm and one on the left leg. Ordinary memebrs are marked in one place only. The tattooing is done in the presence of all the members, and appears to be regarded with some awe. Another ceremony of great importance is the administration of the oath. Each member is required to swear loyalty to the organisation and allegiance to the leader. The penalty;of violating the oath is a sort of vendetta. If a member he disloyal the faithful eleven are bound to ‘down’ him, and make the place too hot for him. The leader of the organisation is known as the ‘ ‘ the Mahdi. ” They speak of him with great respect as “his nib”. One of the articles of association is to the effect that all spoil shall he equally divided, hut it is competent for a majority of members to allow an extra share to those who do the actual work of acquiring the spoil or to the “Mahdi.” The police are acquainted with about half of the members of the society, and each of these has been convicted. None of them does any work as far as is known. The ages of the members range from 16 years to 21, The police are endeavouring to ascertain the identity of the leader. Many robberies have been perpetrated in and about Footscray of late, and members of the society have been convicted and punished for some of them. No particular skill has characterised the jobs, with perhaps one exception. A minor theft was marked by some ingenuity. '.The booking-office at the Seddon railway station was robbed. The money was kept in a heap behind the brass railing of the shutter. Some youths succeded abstracting part of it *by smearing a stick with'bird-lime, and pushing it through on to the coins. “Now that he know of the existence of the organisation, we are in a better position to deal with these numerous robberies. We’ll b. jA up the organisation in a very short while —perhaps in a few weeks. I suspected something of the kind a little time ago, and now that we know of it we will ‘ ‘ shake them up. ’ ’ We tried to get from [these young scamps the name of the ‘Mahdi* and the place of meeting, but they were sworn to secrecy. ’ ’