RACECOURSE HOOLIGANS.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 September 1922, Page 3

RACECOURSE HOOLIGANS.

FEUDS BETWEEN GANGS.. UTTER LAWLESSNESS. London. Sept. 1. A disgraceful blemish on racing in England is the existence or oands of armed hooligans and racecourse parasites, "who visit meetings and terrorise •bookmakers, demanding money. They never work, out live on the racing fraternity. Four gangs, bitter rivals, are known to the police, who are compelled to maintain an elaborate surveillance system. The clashes of these gangs are usually productive of shooting casualties. Revelations of the utter lawlessness of their members were afforded by proceedings in the Police Court, when six members of one gang were charged with shooting two members of a rival gang, who themselves were charged with an offence in another Court.

Evidence was given that after the races on August 19 the two men were outside a public house at Tottenham. Three taxi-cabs drove up, and 12 men descended. Several drew revolvers, and shouting, “Take that!” fired on the two men.

Police rushed up, and the gang scattered. Revolvers, life preservers, and hammers were strewn in the gutter, where also was found a weapon resembling a walking stick, but disguising a revolver and stiletto.

Six men were later arrested, but denied that they possessed the weapons, The case .was adjourned.