Man Arrested for Disturbance in Main Street

Grey River Argus, 31 May 1948, Page 2

Man Arrested for Disturbance in Main Street

The crash of breaking beer bottles, mingied witn hoarse shouts and obscene language, characterised a minor disturoance in front of Beck’s Store, Mackay Street, at a late hour on Saturday, and a number ot passersoy gathered on the opposite side of tne street to watch proceedings. tn the meantime the Greymouth police had been informed, and Constable a. Jackson was quickly on the scene, where he arrested a seaman of the s.s. Kaimai for drunkenness. As the constable was taking the arrested man tow’ards the police station a voice was heard ■to call out: “Cut your stick, mate, before more cops arrive!” Thereupon two other men were seen to emerge from behind a group of spectators and vanish quickly in the direction of the wharf. Sergeant B. W. Wootton, and Constable R. Morrison then searched the wharf, but found no trace of the wanted men. Not long after the arrested man was lodged in thq jail, a person is reported to have rung the police station alleging that the wrong man had been arrested. It is also believed that what was termed “a big fellow” was also involved in the disturbance, but his identity is vet unknown. The prisoner was released yesterday morning on bail, and will appear in thd police court this morning. In the course of the fray fists were seen to fly, and broken bottles littered the side walk, while street rubbish bins were overturned, afid rubbish strewn over the street. , ~, Judging by information to hand, the two wanted men rushed away when they heard the police were coming and left their less fortunate associate to face ths music.