INDIAN FAMINE FETE.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 1067, 28 November 1877, Page 2

INDIAN FAMINE FETE.

To the Editor of the Globe. Sib, —In your issue of last evening I observe some correspondence having reference to a “little scene” which occurred at the “ Indian Famine Relief Fete.” As I was present during the time it occurred, will you please allow me to give my version of it, which will be found to differ, both from that of the correspondent of the “ Saturday Advertiser ” and Mr Briggs. That Sergeant Hughes “ brutally kicked over the stand ” is, as Mr Briggs puts it, “a Wicked Lie,” but he was most certainly sent to endeavour to get rid of the “musical family” by Mr Mitchell and Mr Briggs, for I saw them draw his attention to the parties, whereupon he came over and very grullly ordered them to “ clear out.” To the best of my recollection Mr Mitchell and Mr Briggs did not return after speaking with the sergeant, but left for some other part of the ground j however, the latter gentleman is wrong when he says that “he did not even order them away.” As I considered the sergeant was going beyond his duties I myself spoke up, and told the woman to play on, as she had as much right there as any one, and the police had no power to turn her out. My statement can be substantiated by Sergeant Hughes himself, with whom I had some conversation later in the day, when I again told him that he was exceeding his duties in the action he had taken. In conclusion, I may state that the rest of the sensational story of the “ Saturday Advertiser” is entirely untruthful. Yours, &c., ALFRED GEE. Colombo street, November 28th, 1877.