"PUSH" MURDERERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 January 1920, Page 6

"PUSH" MURDERERS.

MELBOURNE BOYS ON TRIAL. CRIMINALITY AS A CULT. Evidence of an amazing nature was given in the Melbourne City Morgue recently at the inquest on the body of Ernest Stanley Worseldine, aged 13y, years, who died in Melbourne Hospital from bifrlet wounds received on November 4th in a lane at the rear of his home at No. 112 Rose Street, Fitzroy. Harold James Patrick Smith, aged 16,' and William Joseph Flynn, aged 14 years and 8 months, who were charged with the wilful murder of deceased, regarded the proceedings with little show of concern. Mr. J. Nolan attended to watch the interests of Smith; Mr. N. L. O'Connor represented Flynn.

The chief evidence, says the "Age," was given by several boys, who said they were members of the Little Campbells "push," and that bad feeling existed between their "push." and the Roses "push," for which, it was said, deceased had been a "pimp." Evidence revealed that at about 2.30 p.m. on November 4th seven members of the Little Campbells "push" set out to look for a couple of fellows from the Kileys and Roses "pushes." Amongst the party were Norman Harold Webb (known as "eancer"), Joseph Henry, William James Hurst, William John Sumpton, Smith (known as "Dodger"), Plynn, andva boy known as "Poddy."

"HE GAVE CHEEK" Webb stated that in Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, the party saw Worseldine come from a lolly shop. He "gave cheek" and ran away. Flynn, who had a revolver, and Smith, chased him along Rose Street. The rest of the party waited at the corner of Moor Street.' Some shots were heard, and about ten minutes later Smith and Flynn rejoined their companions Smith handed the revolver to witness, and either Smith or Flynn said, "Wn have hit him in the leg. The mob had •better break up." One of them also said something about going away to the country. Witness passed the revolver on to "Dodger" (Smith) and the party dispersed.

William Joseph Sumpton, aged 14, said that when Smith and Flynn rejoined the party and mentioned that they had shot Worseldine, Smith said: "If anyone asks anything about names, don't tell them." Roy Tapner, of 201 Fitzroy Street., said Smith asked him during the afternoon to mind the revolver, and lie placed it in a drawer in his room, where the police found it.

Decteetive A. T. McKerrall gave evidence as to the arrest of Flynn, and Smith on November 6. At first, he said, both boys denied all knowledge of the shooting, but on being confronted with a statement by Webb, they admitted having taken part in the occurrence. Both made statements concerning it. Flynn, in the course of his statement, said: "On November 4 I met Webb and Smith and several other boys, and someone said, 'Come and we will give the Roses i go.' I had a small American revolver in my pocket, and I lired a shot in the air, I saw Worseldine in Brunswick Street. He said something to us and ran along KenStreet. Someone said, 'There goes one of them' (meaning Roses "push"). Harold Smith and 1 ran along Rose Street to meet Worseldine coming down \4mng Street.

"THIRD SHOT DROPPED HIM." "When we readied the corner I saw Worseldine turning into a lane off Young Street at the back of his house. Smith and I followed hhn, and when he got to the end of the. line, which a blind one, lie tried to get in the gate, but could not. He turned round and picked up a brick to aim at one of us, and started calling us names. Smith then said to me, 'Give me. your revolver.' I went to pull it out of my pocket, and it fell to the ground. Smith picked it up and fired three or four shots in the direction of Worseldine, who ran towards us and fell. I think it was the third shot Smith fired that dropped him." Smith; in his statement, corroborated the account given by Flynn, and added, "I am sorry I shot the boy Worseldine." Evidence was also given concerning the finding of Worseldine in a semi-conscious condition, lying in the lane with a bullet wound in his forehead and another in his neck.

The coroner (Dr. Cole) found that deceased had died from a bullet wound, wilfully, felonously and maliciously inflicted by Harold James Patrick Smith, aided and incited thereto by William Joseph Patrick Flynn, and that Smith and Flynn were guilty of wilful murder. Both boys were thereupon ciftnmitted for trial at the Supreme Court on December Bth. In asking for bail, Mr. O'Connor said that Flynn had not fired the shots, and the coroner replied that Flynn had handed the revolver to the other boy, and if there was any distinction he considered Smith was the lighter offender. Bail was fixed at £SOO in each case.