MARLBOROUGH.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume IV, Issue 192, 16 September 1864, Page 1 (Supplement)

MARLBOROUGH.

The Late Riot at Deep Creek. —The correspondent of the Havelock Mail speaking of this matter says : —Hasty or first impressions in connection with subjects of public consequence should be avoided as much as possible, particularly when they form a base for subsequent deduction relative to such occurrences, For this cause I have forborne commenting on the late outrage that happened in the locale of your own,” deeming that when quietness was re-established a better opportunity would be afforded me of arriving at real knowledge of the facts of the the disturbance. In moments of excitement a dispassionate narrative is never obtainable from persons directly or indirectly participating in the events which it describes, nor can it be said that at such time public opinion is farmed on the wisest and most reliable grounds. Now order being restored, and men’s minds less agitated by the terrors of the riot, I think that the details of the row may be written, and the feeling of the com-

“unity expressed. At about five o’clock on the afternoon of the 18th, Sergeant Cruikshank, in charge of the Police Force at Deep Creek, was endeavouring, with the help of the only constable here with him to secure two men who we creating a disturbance in the main street. They succeeded in handcuffing one of them, while the other effected his escape. The prisoner then became very violent, and, turning round, called on the crowd to rescue him. Fifty or sixty men then threw themselves on the policemen, and bodily forcing them in an adjoining store, assaulted them in a most brutal manner.* Struck on all sides, and seeing the futility of their efforts, and their dangerous position, the two constables endeavored to remove the handcuffs from the prisoner, and liberate him. Tire mob forcibly took him away, the handcuffs closed on one of his wrists, and dragging the policemen out of the store, began a most savage attack on Sergeant Cruikshanlc, and his confrere. The Sergeant, being in danger of pulled out his revolver, and while being struck repeatedly on the face, fired at one of the assailants. The shot grazed the man’s face. Then began a rncst ruffianly assault. The Sergeant was dragged and trampled under foot while on the ground, and at last left to all appearances lifeless. One of the ruffians, who took his revolver, amused himself then by firing off the remaining barrels, and the whole mob walked leisurely away, the handcuffed man with them, From the beginning of the affray the stores in the vicinity were closed up, the proprietors being in fear of life and property. The disorderly mob dispersed then throughout the town, and their shouts and imprecations might have been heard late in the night.”