Ruffianism In Melbourne.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 211, 20 October 1888, Page 2

Ruffianism In Melbourne.

Melbourne, October 9. At Melbourne General Sessions, Fred Trevor and John Wilson were brought up for sentence for the robbery of Peter Lessling. His Honor Judge Quinlan said the crime of robbery in company was becoming rampant in Melbourne. Twenty-three out of the 26 prisoners on the present list were natives of Australia. ■teen were Victorian born, and nine of thelKg were charged with robbery in There was less security for life and property ” in Melbourne now than in the days of the goldfields. A number of cowardly young ruffians'now banded themselves together to waylay drunken men and undefended women. No drunken man could be out with impunity after midnight, and no woman unattended was at all safe. The newspapers were filled with accounts of such crime. It was impossible to obtain convictions, as offenders banded themselves together. In the present case there were] five. The prosecutor was, however, sober. He came from a respectable place, and was attacked by the five men. One struck him. another held his hands, and another beat him bn the head. A friend appeared, and the ruffians, [with characteristic cowardice, rau away, but, the two prisoners wera caught. The prosecutor had suffered from the strangulation, and his voice had been affected. It was his duty to protect the citzens and make Melbourne as safe as he could by day and by night. He would inflict such a punishment as would deter others. There appeared to ba no chance of their reformation. Trevor bad started at 17. and had been cautioned nine times, and Wilson eight, and the latter'■ crimes were more serious. The Mutenoa would be seven years* imprisonment will) one flogging of 15 lashes,