“THE GANGSTERS”

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1025, 16 July 1930, Page 12

“THE GANGSTERS”

NINE MEN IN DOCK WHOLESALE INCENDIARISM .From Our Oxen Correspondent The courthouse was packed this morning when 22 charges of arson, theft and mischief were preferred against nine young men known as “the gangsters,” all residents of Cambridge. The accused were Alfred Donnington Brown. 23, Edward Daniel Brown, 21. John Meredith, 2S r John Vickers Featherstone. IS. Harvey Charges Hall, 22. Sidney Walter Goodhall. 21, Herzel Edward Orr. 21, George Gordon Stewart Simpson, 22. and David Edward Harrison 19. All, with the exception of Simpson were charged with being concerned in wholesale incendiarism and the theft or destruction of motor cars. Simpson was charged only with the theft of tools from a service car which went over a bank at Karapiro arid with mischief. The floor of the court was littered with motor accessories and other gear including 12 gallon drums of benzine. The total value of the buildings and cars destroyed by fire through the gang’s activities, was about £5.000. Featherstone was concerned with 19 alleged offences, E. D. Brown, with 18, A. D. Brown 14, Hull 13, Goodall 7, Meredith 5, Simpson 2, Harrison and Orr, one each. According to statements read the modus operandi in five cases was to drive to empty buildings, sprinkle benzine on the walls and ignite them. Of the cases dealt with before the court adjourned Hall and Featherstone pleaded guilty and were committed for sentence. Goodall and the Brown brothers pleaded not guilty and were committed for trial.