The Washington herald., 1908-05-17
THUGS DEFY LONDON
Gangs of Boy Ruffians Give
Police Great Trouble.
ALWAYS GO HEAVILY ARMED
Make Raids Into Territory of other
Bands and Pitched Battles Is Re-
suIt-Up-to-date HoOiisans Carry
Derringers and Often Fire Through
shop windows and Break Glass.

London. May 1.-THE alarming increase
In the number Of lawless hooligans In the
London streets is proving a most serious
menace to the public
Six boys-all less than eighteen years
old-were remanded at the Thames Police
Court yesterday afternoon on a charge OF
wounding two other lads with revoIvers.
This was the sequel TO the pitched battle
between rival gangs Of hooligans fought
out on Wednesday night in the Bow road.
The London hooligan is brother to the
Apache OF the Paris boulevards. Like
his Partisan prototype, he is ready 70 rob
-or even murder. If 1t is quite safe for
himself In London there are nov at
least forty well organized and fourishlng
bands of youthful hooliganE, who defy
the police. terrorize tradesmen, and, when
opportunity arises. rob and attack the
wayfarer.
London is completely surrounded by de-
tachmsntA Of this army OF boy criminals,
who prefer the freedom and chances Of
the street to honest work They are 70
be found in practically every slum dis
trict-north. south. west. and east In tbs
hyways Of Lambeth and Southwark. in
Hoxton. Bethnai Green. Bow. and in the
remote parts OF Camden Town. they are
TO be counted by the hundred.
Names OF Some Gangs.
The names Of soma Of the gangs give
an idea of their widespread activities:
The Boys OF Bow.
The Knuckledusters Qslington).
The Silver Hatchet Gang (aoxton).
The Old Ford Boys.
The New Girdle Gang Lambeth).
The Bermondsey Buttons.
The Blackfriars Gang.
The Deptford Terrors.
The Bruisers Hackney.
The Bethnal Green Boys.
The members Of these bands. although
drawn from so many different districts.
all bear j striking family likeness. They
may be recognized by the wary al a
/ glance.
They are usually short and slight. with
/ the alert. anxious look Of cockey fox
terrier. and almost all wear rakish caps
well pulled down over their eyes and
muffler around their throats-the hooli-
gans are united in their distaste for col
+ lars as well as work They all wear belts
with heavy metal clasps. which are useful
+ for fghting-or stunning a stranger be-
i fore robbing him.
All Carry Pistols.
The up-to-date hooligan also carries q
pistol. a derringer is the usual kind. but
many are provided with revolgers, which
they are not slow 10 use
''Hooliganism is growing faster than We
can deal with Il" said an East End po-
lice inspector last night.
THE typical hoolisan Is as crafty as he
can be-up to every trick-and as slippery
as an eel
a'The members Of the gangs are usually
known TO the police. and We can often
tell when trouble is brewing, and make
our plans accordingly. When we see
/ knots Of these lads whispering together
at street corners We know q fight is ex-
peeted
Sometimes the more important battles
between the gangs are arranged tWc or
! three nights beforehand. The lads viii
make a sudden raid which has been care
fully planned They will visit another
district, all choosing different routes, and
then mass TO smash up the enemy.
~Shopkeepers have complained OF shots
being fired through their windows and
glass being broken by stones and belts in
their encounters.