THE EXPLOITS OF A GANG OF LARRIKINS.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2479, 17 March 1882, Page 3

THE EXPLOITS OF A GANG OF LARRIKINS.

At the Resident Magistrate’s Court this morning, Messrs Whitefoord and Ollivier, Resident Magistrates, and R. Westenra, J.F. being on the Bench, Charles Chamberlain, William Butterworth, John Gilpin and Thomas Fabr were charged with having on the night of February 25th, in Lower High street, Christchurch, violently assaulted Anglesea Adams, John Rodgers, and Richard Fitzgerald. The charge was substituted for that named in the warrants for their arrest, viz., “behaving in a manner calculated to provoke a breaoh of the peace.” The charge against Bushell was withdrawn. The remaining four wore charged with having violently assaulted Ada Harrison at the same time and place, thereby occasioning her grievous bodily harm. Prisoners were undefended. John Gilpin was separately charged with having violently assaulted William Clements, thereby occasioning him grevious bodily harm. Dr. Patrick, sworn, deposed that prosecutor was enabled to appear. He had bad his jaw broken and several of bis teeth displaced, and was now suffering from an abscess which formed in the side of his face, Oa the application of the police, prisoner was remanded till March 22 nd.

The other cases wore then proceeded with.

J. O. Fisher stated that on the night of February 25th, at about 11.10, while going down High street, between Lichfield and Tnam streets, be interfered to prevent a number of young men beating a woman. They attacked him, knocked him down, and beat him. His wife, who tried to save him, was also attacked ; she received a blow in the face. He got a black eye and other injuries. Gilpin struck witness and his wife. Chamberlain was in the mob. Martin Taylor, who saw the affair, identified Gilpin and Butterworth as having assaulted Mr Fisher. James Fowler also saw the assault, Fisher tried to get away, and was followed down the street by the gang, who were boating him all the way. O. Wadey gave similar evidence. He identified all the prisoners except Gilpin, This was the evidence for the prosecution. All the prisoners denied the charge. Anglesea Adams deposed that he had been attacked and severely beaten at about the time and place before mentioned, by several young men. He did not recognise any of the prisoners. John Bodgers saw the assault. He thought Chamberlain was one of the gang, K. Fitzgerald saw the assault, but could not identify any of the prisoners. O. Wadey, who was present at the time, stated that Mr Adams interfered to save some other person, when they all turned on him and beat him shamefully. He identified Gilpin, Butterworth, and Fahr, as some of those who took part. Witness was so close to the parties that when stooping to save himself Mr Adams was actually knocked over his head. He had no doubt as to those he named. Another witness identified Gilpin. The prisoner Chamberlain called Margaret Suddens, who swore that on the night in question she saw him with one Mary Bennet at 10 30 o’clock. Butterworth was with her from 9.30 to 11 30, They went together from the Palace Hotel to her home. Biohard Chamberlain, one of those who had been fined last Friday for participation in the disturbance, deposed that he had been in all the rows, and bad not seen Butterworth that night after eight o’clock. Obas. Chamberlain stood and looked on at the attack on Mr Adams, but did not take part in it. Those actually engaged were Gilpin, Edward Chamberlain, witness, and some other one he did not know. Edwd. Chamberlain deposed that be parted from Butterworth at the Gaiety Theatre at nine o’clock, and he never saw him since till the present moment. Witness was concerned in the attack on Adams, and saw all who were there. Mary Bennet, who was present at a fracas, stated that Butterworth was not there. [Witness hero said she saw two rows; she did not know of which Mr Adams was the victim. The pri Boners took part in one or the ether.] John Bodgers stated that on the night of February 25th he was standing atMcSwigan’s boot shop looking at a number of larrikins beating Mr Adams, There were ten or twelve of them, not four, as had been stated by witnesses for the defence. Witness interfered to save Mr Adams, and was severely beaten by some of the assailants. B. Fitzgerald saw last witness assaulted. Witness interfered to save Bodgers, and was assaulted himself. Three wore beating Bodgers, and two set on witness. Neither of these last witnesses could identify any of the prisoners. Ada Harrison deposed to seeing Fitzgerald assaulted by three young men ; four others were beating Bodgers at the same time. She saw Gilpin holding Fitzgerald. O. Wadey, who was present, identified Fahr and Gilpin, the latter of whom cried, “ Give them Ashburton.” Ho knew him, for he took particular notice of him as having beaten Bodgers unmercifully. Chamberlain and his two brothers were also present. Prisoners had nothing to say to this charge. The prisoners were then charged with having assaulted B. Fitzgerald. Fahr pleaded guilty. The details of his case appear in the evidence given above. He had interfered to save Adams, and was severely beaten. O. Wadey identified Gilpin and Fahr as being active assailants. Chamberlain was in the melee. Prisoners had nothing to say. The prisoners were also charged with violently assaulting and beating Ada Harrison. The evidence showed that while Mrs Harrison was passing in a cab the scene of the outrages she recognised in one of the victims Mr Fitzg rald, a friend of hers. A number of men were beating him. Bhe alighted, and taking hold of Mr Fitzgerald tried to get him away. They moved away, but were followed by three or four men, who repeated the assault. One of the assailants struck witness in the stomach, and she fainted. When the recovered she found herself in the Hospital. She identified the prisoner Gilpin as one of the men who attacked Fitzgerald, Ho held Fifz gerald. She did not know who struck her. She was retained at the Hospital till the folio wing Monday in consequence of the blow she had received. 0. Wadey repeated much of the evidence he had previously given. He corroborated Mrs Harrison’s statement. While she was trying to get Fitzgerald away, one of the gang —Fahr, he believed —ran at her and struck her violently in the body. She did not fall immediately, but after a while staggered clear of Fitzgerald, and fell into the arms of witness in a faint. She must have received several other blows in the fray, as she and Fitzgerald were surrounded by several of the gang, all striking at once. [The prisoners were made to walk across the Court.] Witness believed Fahr to be the one whom ho saw strike Mrs Harrison. He recognised him by his peculiar gait. Wit- . ness put Mrs Harrison into a cab, and she was taken to the Hospital. Gilpin was fighting. Witness had seen Chamberlain a little before, and he must have been in the row, but witness did not see him assault Mrs Harrison, R. Chamberlain stated he was so engaged him-s-lf he could give no account of the attack on Mrs Fitzgerald. Join Bodgers stated that after the row ho saw Mrs Harrison lying on the footpath insensible. James Forward deposed to seeing Mrs Harrison go to the assist anca of Fitzgerald. She was immediately surrounded by seven or eight, who wore all striking at Fitzgerald, Witness did not see

her struck, but thought it impossible for her toeßoape being struck. He afterwards saw her lying on the footpath. She remained there about twenty minutes, when she was put into a cab. He identified Gilpin as being in the thickest of the attack. This was all the evidence for the prosecution. Prisoners did not cross-examine any of the witnesses, and declined to say anything in answer to the charge, M. Taylor, recalled, stated that since hie statement, in the case of Mr Adams, as to Butterworth, he found he had made a mistake. The person he had taken to be him was really one of the Chamberlains who had been fined on Friday last. J. Whitfield, recalled, said he had no doubt as to Butterworth having been one of Mr Adams’ assailants. Ha saw him distinctly and at a distance of not more than six yards. The Court adjourned till 2 p.m. The Bench, in passing sentence, said they regretted they had not the power to order the prisoners to be flogged as part of the punishment inflicted on them. Gilpin and Fahr were ordered lo be imprisoned for eight months with hard labor, being two months for each of the first four of the conjoint charges. Chamberlain was fined £l4, or in default three months’ imprisonment with hard labor, Butterworth, against whom the Bench did not consider the charges satisfactorily proved, was discharged with a caution. Gilpin’s sentence was ordered to stand over until Wm. Clement’s case has been heard. The other criminal information in re Ada Harrison was dismissed.