MASKED MEN

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 9, 29 May 1914, Page 6

MASKED MEN

!, CRIME GANG IN SYDNEY. j EARLY MORNING OUTRAGE, [ MAN TIED TO HIS BED. The ro-appciiranec of" the armed and masked burglar das come as unwelcome news to the" suburban householder, in Sy dncy. It is nearly two years since Sydney •has known anything in .the shape of a real crime wave, and there are indications that there is to he a repetition in* the daring hold-ups carried out by the. "Ginger Mori;" gang, a gang that was ultimately broken up by the arrest and.convcition of its leader some eighteen months ago. Early on the morning of May fi two men entered Mr Nicholas Costa's fruit shop, 662 Darling street, Roze'Je, awakened the only occupant of the place, Mr Antonin .lajitello, an employee, from his sleep, tied him down to his bed, gagged him at the point of a revolver, and ransacked the place. Mr .lajitello, being alone in the building at the time was quite, unable to raise an alarm. The first intimation he had of anyone being in the room was when someone shook him by tbe shoulder and Hashed an electric torch in his face. Blinded and bewildered by -such a sudden awakening, he was unable for the moment to realise what was happening. A gruff voice brought him to his senses. "Where is your money?" it demanded.

Two men were standing beside the bed. They were Hearing black ma.sks, and one of them pushed) a revolver to his fac.«.' air. .lajitello, terrified at; the sight of the weapon, motioned a coat that wa-s Jumging behind a door. - The two intruders were not content however, to take the money and go. The taller one of the two suggested that l.iijitollo .should bo bound and- gagged. for fear that he might disturb" the neighborhood: The second .mtm refused to submit to be tied down to his bed. The men took the. final precaution of gagging him with a piece of rag, and then they proceeded to search the house. The sum of £l4 wag. removed fronv a coat, pocket, but the robbers found little else of value. They departed by the back door and left their victim to contemplate, his position.

After the men had gone, Mr. .lajite.Urt' succeeded in wrenching himself free, and communicated with the police. The. outrage is believed to be the work of a gang which has been recently operating in Melbourne. |„ view of the l'aet, special men have been told oil' to keep a close watch on "crook.-'' from other States who are known to be in the c;t;v.