Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1902-04-10
A MURDEROUS BAND.
Australian Secret Society Pledged
to Kill and Destroy.
Operate Under n Kina whose Word
L. Law-nethod of OSganAsa-
tion aad Procedure OF
Execution.


It Is now something like 10 years
since the British government was
much disturbed by the deprsdationso sof
what appeared to be an organized band
OF murderers operating throughout
New South Wales. The organization
was a secret one and at first seemed
hardly worth while noticing. But be-
fore five years had passed II was so
powerful that the government found
itself forced to arm even the constab-
ulary with revolyers and to instruct
them not to be too slow about shoot
ing in order TO give them some means
OF protection against the criminals
who had been enrolled under the So
ciety's rules. Since then, despite con-
stant warfare made on it by the po-
ice. II has grown so vastly that now
many cities are terrorized periodical
ly by its members and It threatens Aus
tralia much as the Molly Maguires
threatened the United States, says an
eastern exchange.
This Australian secret murder So
ciety is known as Larrikin. The Lar
rkin is divided into branch societies
known as pushes. Each push has a
king. whose word Is law.
The member Of push must do what
ever the king directs, be It robbery,
arson or murder. In turn the entire
push stands by him and will stop at
nothing, however desperate, to rescne
him II he Is taken. So well have many
Of the pushes proved their ability to
do this that In the districts where they
are most powerful II Is common for
them to commit all sorts OF criminal
acts In full daylight and practically
publicly.
There Is little really secret about the
organization OF these pushes. Nearly
everything concerning them Is known,
so far as their methods OF selecting
new members, Furnishing traitors and
so on are concerned. But all the ef-
forts Of the police have been unavail-
ing to find out who the kings are.
Any male youth more than II years
old who lives permanently in push
district is eligible for membership.
Should he wish to Join he sends the
king written application and fee
OF ten shillings which Is one Of the
kings perquisites OF Office. On rsoeiy-
ing the application the king calls to-
gether his Ave councillors, whom he In
.structs 10 make inquiries and report.
A meeting OF the push then is CON
vened and the applicant is accepted or
rejected on a show Of hands II 40
oepted he serves as a provisional initi-
ate for period Of six months Then,
after subscribing his nnme to the
push book" which Is a book wherein
are recorded the crimes committed by
the push. he becomes n full-hsdged
member and 10 made acquainted with
the push's code OF laws. No oath 10
administered and there is no ceremony
or form OF introduction whatsoever
The first and most stringent disci.
pline OF push law enforces obedience
to constituted authority. "Whnt the
king says goes" Is their own phrase,
and the contravention of the maxim
is punishable In the first instance with
the sock" in the second with death.
The sock is popular with all Larri-
kins, who dearly love an opportunity
OF Witnessing its infiiction. The Of
fender is stripped, gagged and strapped
face downward along an ordinary
wooden bench, whereupon the execu-
tioners beat him In turn with a stock
ing filed with wet sand until his fiesh
is completely raw. His wounds are
then salted and he is kept In a prison
until recovery. On such occn sions pro-
ceedings are conducted with the
gravest decorum; no one is permitted
TO speak and unnecessary violence 10
sternly prohibited. No sympathy Is
manifested for the victim, and such
circumstance as a protest against the
barbarity OF the punishment Is abso-
lutely unknown.
Tn. death penalty 10 rarely exacted
in the case OF members OF the frater-
nifty, but outsiders who have incurred
the push vengeance are killed regular
ly. Tbs king chooses for sxecutioners
n score OF his subjects. OF whom at
least seven are the latest recruits OF
the order. The victim is surrounded.
stunned and thrown to the ground.
No deadly weapon is employed. Each
OF the push silently kick the body OF
the PROSTATE victim until life IL sx-
tinct. Thus all the 20 are equally
guilty OF murder and probably no
member OF any push has been enrolled
for longer period than two years
without being thus stamped with the
hallmark at pushdom.
II member desires TO sever his
connection with his push or TO depart
from the push district in order 10 live
elsewhere he is allowed u do so only
after having signed confession OF
having committed, single-handed, tho
last capital crime Of which the push is
guilty. This document Is handed TO
the king who fles IL In the push book,
which is naturally kept in a place Of
security. This book Is the one strong
and yet weak spot In the push system.
IL IL were conveyed to tha hands of
the authorities the whole push would
have TO stand self-Arraigned and self
condemned as murderers and neces so
ries But so long as each members
name is In the book with his record OF
crimes, so long is he the helpless slave
OF the king. Therefore the pushes real
iHe that their safety depends upon the
careful preservation OF these memo
Iials. At important gatherings the
book must be produced, that members
may have an opportunity Of reassur-
Ing themselves by perusing eonfes.
Noni which transfer aud fasten their
JONI burdens on the shoulders OF alb
cent individuals.
- IEE1