DISORDERLY SCENE IN THE CITY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 35, 5 November 1917, Page 6

DISORDERLY SCENE IN THE CITY

DEMONSTRATION AGAINST MILITARY POLICE

PARTY TAKES REFUGE IN YJ.CA.

SEQUEL TO AN ARREST

The arrest of an allegedly intoxicated returned soldier by the military police on Saturday night very nearly led to a serious riot. The man was wrested in Manners Street, and was being escorted by two men of tho military policci and Sergeant-Major Crowther, also of tho military police. When near the Y.M.C.A. building in Upper Willis Street—it is alleged by eye-witnesses—tho prisoner was struck with a stick. This incensed the crowd which had gathered, and rapidly swelled in numbers, and the military' police were in danger of being mobbed. Tho crowd hooted and yelled, and had : it not been for the action of the assist* ant-secretary of the Y.M.C.A. (Mr. Godhard) in inviting the sergeant-major and the o'ttfer military police and the prisoner into the Y.M.C.A. building, Hue party would have been in considerable danger.

As soon as they disappeared into the building the crowd nished the doors, hut these were promptly closed. Before (lie military police with their prisoner escaped into the Y.M.C.A. the sergeantmajor, it is said, was struck by a civilian, who was seen later with a broken walking-stick in his hand.

Posse of Police Arrives. Once inside the Y.M.C.A. building: the civil police were sent for, and a number of oonstables under Sergeant Al'lCelvie arrived, and kept the crowd,; which was variously estimated at from 500 to 800 in number, in order. The police quietly got them away from the Y.M.C.A. and across the roadway, but there were moments when tha situation looked very 6erious. A section of hoodlums, more or loss under the influence of liquor, were particularly ,-ftoisy and aggressive, and Sergeant M'Kolvie got in amongst them and warned them that under the new War Regulation inciting a riot or resisting the polico means twelve months in gaol.

"Once I put my hands c/n you," be said, "it will mean spending your Christmas on the hill."

This section soon quietemjd down. The civil polico displayed considerable tact in handling the excited crowd, and great credit is- 6aid to be duo to them fur this.

Another Outburst. After a timo the sergeant-major came to the door to see if a (taxicab that had been called by telephone Had arrived, and hia appearance at 'the doorway was the signal for a renewed outburst of hooting. The man who was carrying a broken walking-stick stepped out from the crowd and abused the sergeant-major. The latter asked his tormentor to come into the Y.M.C.A.,, and as soon as the man, ■whose name is' Augustus George Warner, stepped inside he was handed over to the civil police, and will be charged in the Magistrate's Court to-day with assaulting the sergeant-major. :

It was nearly midnijjht 'before-'Ser-geant-Major G'rowther (;ot away from the Y.M.C.A., and it was then necessary to provide him with a strong picket fcr protection. The crowd hooted and boohooed until he and his guard were well on the way to the Buf-kle street barracks. From all accounts there was no attempt on the part of the crowd •.

rescue 'the prisoner. It was the alleged striking of the mail in tho custody of the military police that is held by tho spectators to liavo been, responsible for the disorderly scene thait followed,