The Feilding Star. THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 1893. A Blow at Larrikinism

Feilding Star, Volume XIV, Issue 108, 2 March 1893, Page 2

The Feilding Star. THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 1893. A Blow at Larrikinism

Although we agree with the aphorism that " the worst use you can put a man to is to hang him," yet there are occasions when it is almost better that a man should be dead than be alive. Not, perhaps, so much to atone for the evils he may have done while living, but as an example and warning to others of the same character. As a case in point, we instance that of a larrikin who was slain in Mcl bourne by a constable, who was the object of attack by four of these objectionable youths. It appears that the constable had warned them against behaving boisterously towards an unfortunate woman. They became aggressive in their demeanour, and threatened the constable with personal violence. The constable recognised the danger of his position and went to get the assistance of a brother officer, whom, however, he failed to find. On returning to his beat, he was warned by some Chinamen that he was about to be attacked, and immediately afterwards the four young men came up to him. After much abuse and bad language had been indulged in, at a signal from one of their number, they placed themselves in fighting attitudes. One was armed with a slang-shot, and a second with a big belt with a very heavy buckle. The latter struck at the constable, who then drew his baton and brought his assailant to the ground with a smart back hnnded blow. The others then made off in the cowardly fashion common to their species. The injured man was taken to the hospital where he died from fracture of the skull. At the inquest which followed the coroner, in summing up, laid it down (according to the Melbourne Argus) that the constable was justified in acting as he had done in selfdefence, as the evidence showed that if he had not struck deceased the latter would undoubtedly have killed him. The jury brought in a verdict of justifiable homicide, and the public will endorse the verdict. The constable behaved with considerable forbearance, as well as bravery and firmness, in doing his duty, and when he was set upon by four assailants to one he was bound to defend himself. That the death of tin's young man, and the sensible finding of the coroner's jury, will have a beneficially deterrent effect, we sincerely hope. It is worthy of note that the larrikin is a gregarious animal. He can only exist when he lias a number of others of the same class with him, to encourage him in his wickedness. He is a coward because the objects of his attacks are generally the weak or helpless, and if by the fact of numbers, he does muster up courage to work evil on a strong man, the first reverse cows him, and he flies, alarmed for his personal safety. In Victoria, New South Wales, and even in New Zealand constables, in the execution of their duty, have had to put up with numerous assaults from larrikins, which they have not resented at the moment because they wore uncertain as to what might follow, knowing well as they did, from bitter experience, how little the public sympathised with the preservers of law and o-der in such cases. Now, however, that " there is a turn in the tide" which lias set in their favor, they will do their duty unflinchingly and, in ca.se of attack, will not fear to uso the weapons placed in their hands for self-defence.