SATURDAY NIGHT'S RIOT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3162, 14 August 1917, Page 8

SATURDAY NIGHT'S RIOT

__.—$ SEQUEL IN COURT

ORIGIN OP THE.DISTURBANCE The sequel to the disgraceful disturbance that occurred in Cuba and Vivian Streets on Saturday night was enacted in the Magistrate's Court jesterday, when Harvey Nicholls, a fireman, appeared before Mr. S. E. M'Carthy, S.M., charged (1) Being found drunk in tho public bar of the Imperial Hotel; (2) refusing ( to quit licensed premises; (3; resisting Contitable If Coll whilo in the execution of ins duty; (4) 'causing damage to a pair of uniform trousers, value 30s!, tbo property of the New- Zealand Government; (8) causing damage to a wristlet watch, value J&, the property of Herbert Todd; (6) causing damage to a helmet, value 11s. 6d., the property of/the New Zealand Government; (7) uaing' obscene ■'.diguage in Vivian Street; (8) resisting fu.nstable Dowling in Hie execution of his duly. Sub-Inspector Dew. who prosecuted, stated that the disturbance, which took place in the city on night in Cuba and Vivian Streets, was a very disgraceful aß'air. Some of the public did come to the assistance of the police, but generally speaking the crowd that assembled in the neighbourhood was hostile. If those who came before the Court in connection with the riot were found guilty he asked that a- severe penalty be imposed. It was a serious matter to interfere with the police while in the execution of their duty. It was necessary that the police should receive protection, especially just now, as, owing to n. number of constables having gone to the war. young and less-experienced men had joined the service. Edward J. Stewart, licensee of the Imperial Hotel, ,in his evidence, said he could not swear to the accused being the man who was in hia bar on Saturday night when the disturbance occurred. Witness explained how he came to turn the man out. The latter wanted to come into the botel again to fight a man who was in the bar, but wns prevented from doing so. Constable M'Coll then appeared on the scene, and requested the j man to go away home, but he refused to leave and the constable proceeded to ar- j rest him, and a struggle, between them ; followed. A big crowd gathered/ and witness heard someone snh ov.t. Jhyy are killing the constable!" When witness was about to close the hotel, he was asked to. telephone for the police, which he did. , Warder Herbert Todd, who happened to be in Cuba Street, and went to the assistance of Constable M'Coll, stated that he was grabbed by tho neck by several hands and thrown on to the footpath, when his wristlet watch was destroyed. The man that Constable SI. Coll was endeavouring to arrest got nwny, and went up Ingestre Street,' accompanied by a ship-mate. "' Later, another attempt, was made by Constable Bowling and witness to arrest the accused, who roasted violently, but was eventually handcuffed. ■ On reaching Veitch and Allan's corner, Constable Cox canio to their assistance. The crowd became very hostile, arid the accused was taken into a confectioner's shop, which was damaged by tho crowd. The arrested man wns eventually taken to the Mount Cook StaOther , ,evidence was called to show that accusod was the principal canso of the disturbance. The Magistrate, in convicting tho accused,' said ho wns drunk and quarrelsome, and tho licensee of tho hotel wan perfectly justified in turning him out oF the hotel. Ho yas asked civilly by tho constable to go away, but refused to rio so, anil was the cause of the-whole trouble. On the first charge accused was convicted and discharged; for refusing to leave licensed premises ne was fined 405., In default fourteen day?' imprisonment; for resisting Constable M'Coll ho was sentenced to three monlhs Imprisonment: for resisting Constable Dowling, and for using obsconc language, he wns convicted and discharged, and ho was ordered to refund 305.. cort ol Iho trousers. Us. Gfl. cost of tho helmet, and M, cost of tho wristlet watch, all of which were damaged.

Helpers in the Riot. Svrtnev 'Reid ""us charged ,vilh olv sirncHn'g Constable M'Coll while m <-ho execution nf his duly. The accused vns ■alleged to'have interfered -while the conStable was arresting Nicholls, ami was struck by the policeman. Accused denied ha.v'ing taken part, in the disturbance', but , the-Magistrate refused to bctieve liis etory. and convicted and lined liim £5, in default ono month's imprisonment. . ... . John Jones, who was al«o i hawed with obstructing Constable M'Coll. had notliing to pay, and was. convicted and fined £16, in default two months imprisonment. , T II" Henry. Jensen and. Ernest Leshke were jointly charged with ' inciting Eohert Muirhead. ,lo ; resist- Constable James Scarry while in Ihe execution of Ins duty. "Don't.go, give, the copper a. go! was their advice to the man under arrest:. Both-accused were convicted and each fined ,£5, in default one month s imprisonment. )• . Terence Bowler, who appeared in uniform, was charged with using _ obscenelanguage in Tory Slxecl,, also with inciting Harvey Nicholls tn resist Constable M'Coll wliilo in the execution of his duty. After hearing the evidence the Magistrate, in recording a .'.-wiction, said: "A soldier on leave should behave hfmself like a. gentleman? You have behaved like a blackguard. On that ni?ht you disgraced your uniform. For using nftcene language accused was fined £.\ in rfefanlt one months .imprisonment, and on the- second charge ho-was convicted and ordered to be handed over to the n , "Vary nnthorities. • Sooert. Bertram Warner pleaded guilty to assaulting Constable M'Coll, while in the execution.of his duty, and not gmltv to obstructing" the flame constable. He was remanded until to-day, bail being allowed in .£SO and two sureties of .£25 each Ernest Fordha-m, a soldier, was charged with obstructing-' Sergeant Cruiekshank while in the execution of his duty, and was nl?o remanded until to-day on the same bail as in the previous case.