RIOTOUS ACTIONS

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 140, 11 December 1930, Page 11

RIOTOUS ACTIONS

ASSAULT ON POLICE

THE MAXIMUM PENALTY

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) CHEISTCHUECH, This Day. Reginald James M'Kegney, aged 29, one of the unemployed, was sentenced by Mr. E. D. Moslcy, S.M., this morning to three months' imprisonment with hard labour on two charges of assaulting a police sergeant and wilfully obstructing the police. The police said that at the City Council Chambers last Tuesday, when they were endeavouring to eject a man named Marshall, a leader of an unemployed demonstration, M'Kegney interfered. He rushed at the police and endeavoured to strike tho sergeant, who eventually threw him over on a seat. "For two minutes things were • very bad," added tho Senior Sergeant. Eeferring to M'Kegney, the Senior Sergeant said: "This man is one of the Communistic crowd who have been giving so much trouble. On Tuesday a crowd of them visited the Mayor, and the police were called to put one of them out. ' M'Kegney made two attempts to strike Sergeant Leckie. He is one of the Communists —not, however, connected with the ordinary unemployed —who have been trying to work up trouble by marching through the streets and defying the law. This man is one of the ringleaders." The Magistrate said: "There is only one punishment for those who disturb the peace and the good name of the city, and that is the maximum penalty."

Georgo Christopher Harris, aged 29, a labourer, was charged with using threatening words, being disorderly, and stealing gas valued at 12s. He was remanded in custody till the afternoon. This was another squel to Tuesday's demonstration. . The threatening words were alleged to bo: "I'll get you yet. Only your, uniform saves you." The police to-day arrested another leader of tho unemployed, A. F. Marshall, formerly of Wellington, on charges of using insulting language.