LARRIKIN YOUTHS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 3, Issue 636, 14 September 1933, Page 2

LARRIKIN YOUTHS

CHRISTCHURCH CASE YOUTH ALLEGEDLY BOUND: AND SANDBAGGED BY GANG "KELLY GANG OR EU KLAN" Christchurch, Tuesday. A suggestion that the actions of a band of youths parfcook of the nature. of a Kelly gang or a Ku Klux Klan was made by the police in the Magistrate's Court to-day, before Mr. E. D. Mosley, S.M., when it was dtclared that one of the band was' attacked by others, who, after cutting part of his hair off, bound and gagged him, hit him on the head with a sandbag, and then stuck a' pin into him to find out if he were dead. Four youths, aged 17 and 18 years, faced the Magistrate while this story wa's told, and they were remanded until Tuesday of next week, when the police expect to prefer several charges against them. The accused were: Philip Percival Sharp, 17, a printer, Fisher Styeet, charged. with stealing 6s, the property of Thomas Allaii Crawshaw, on August 13, William Joseph Hallins, 18, a stoker, Rolleston Street' and Stanley Thomas Allan Grawshaw, 17, a' student, Manchester Street, jointly charged wi^h assaulting Philip Percival Sharp at Cashmere on August 26; and Norman Frederick Fletcher, 18, a signwriter, Page's Road, charged with breaking and entering S>t. Mary's Church, Merivale, and committing theft. The oase follows an affray at Rossmore Terrace, Cashmere, on Saturday evening when Sharp was attacked by three other youths wearing h'ooded masks and received a very rough handling. When his assailants left him he telephoned. the police. A heavy murderous-looking sandbag was ex'hibited in the Magistrate's Court today, and the police stated! that witjh this weapon Sharp was struck over the head. ' Mr. P. J. Amodeo appeared for Sharp and Hallins. Mr. T. Milliken for Crawshaw and Mr. R. Twyneham for Fletcher. Anonymous Letter Chief-Detective W. H. Durilop said that about 8 p.m. on Saturday Sharp werif to Cashmere Hills because he had received an anonymous letter asking him to go there. When he arrived he was seized hy three other youths who cut off some of his hair, bound and gagged him, and then hit him on the head with ia sandbag. ' Finally they stuck a pin into Sharp to see if he were dead or not. One of the youths had a shot-gun. There 'was a suggestion of a Kelly gang or a Ku Klux* Klan labout the affair. There would be other charges against the lads. The Magistrate might consider remanding them to the, Juvenile Court. The Magistrate indicated that he would like to hear all the facts before considering that. Not In The Sandbag The Chief Detective said that he would apply for a remand. The charges involved thefts, breaking and entering, and conversion of cars. Accused were remanded to appear on September 5. (Mr. Amodeo: Will your Worship consider the question of suppression of the names? The Magistrate: I will not. " Mr. Amodeo: They arg only lads, sir. The Magistrate: That is so. Mr. Amodeo: Sharp is the boy who was assaulted. The Chief Detective said that though Sharp was assaulted by the others for some breach of their order, they were all involved in the other charges which had to be investigated. The Magistrate asked what was to he done with the boys in the meantpne. Mr. Amodeo said that Sharp was living at home, with his father, who had not known anything of his activities, but. would look after him. Mr. Milliken said that the way the police had given what might he call-' ed the bones of the case might cause the Magistrate rto think that it was more serious than it really was. The Magistrate might consider that it was more of a boyiish prank in the spiritj of adventure. 'The Magstrate: Oh, spirit of adventure? Have you seeh that sandbag? There is not much spirit of adventure in that; is there? Mr. Milliken: No. Possibly not. * The M'agistrate: Oh, spirit of ad- ' for the counsel to talk about spirit of adventure. That sort of spirit has got 'to be put a stop to. " Mr. Amodeo said that Hallin's employers were prepared to take him back. 'The Magistrate allowed bail in self £100 and tjwo sureties of £50 each accused. Mr. Amodeo: Will your Worship make any. order with regard to the question of the names? The Magistrate. I will not.