BATTLE ROYAL.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 July 1919, Page 4

BATTLE ROYAL.

A STREET MELEE.

WELLINGTON, July 25.

Before Mr E. Page, S.M., in the < Magistrate’s Court, yesterday, Thomas ! Jones and William J. Edwards (a coloured man) were charged with behaving in a disorderly manfer, whereby a breach of the peace was occasioned. Both accused denied the charge. The evidence of the police was to the effect that on the afternoon of the 21st the accused created a disturbance in the Central Hotel. There was some doubt as to who actually commenced hostilities, but they developed into a free fight, which commenced in the hotel I and continued into the street, where I a regular melee took place. After a j combat, in which all the participants ; were more or less injured, the negro j made a movement with his hand towards ‘ his hip, and the crowd, shouting that I ho was about to draw a knife or a rej volver, became angry and chased Edwards for some distance. It was asI erted that Jonos was the aggressor, in J that he insulted the negro, and threaj tened to “clean up the town of them.” j He said he would do to the negroes ! in New Zealand what had been done to ' the darkies by the miners of Wales. | The proprietor of the Central Hotel ' said Edwards was having a quiet drink • when Jones commenced to pass insulting ! remarks. Anticipating trouble, witness J asked the negroes to shift. This they i did, when Jones “suddenly went mad,” ! and, taking off his coat, challenged all and sundry, and said he would clean lup the show of all the niggers. The | negroes lent the bar, and Jones charged I out alter tliem and created a very iive!jy scene. A “battle royal*” ensued, in ] which Jones took a prominent part.

A negro said J ones caiied them names, and used bad language. Witness sai<i he was a British subject, and had as much right, there as anyone else. He had done his bit in helping to transport troops to and 'fro. Accused Edwards said Jonos had objected to their presence in the hotel, and said that all niggers should be cleared out of England, that there were 2000 niggers in Cardiff, and they wore the cause of the revolution which he said uas coming in England.

Other witness said there was “a good Biitisli scrap,” with plenty of blood jiying—“the place looked like a slaughterhouse,” said one. Jones and Edwards were both bleeding. Jones, whose face showed many marks of the conflict said he was struck, and had to defend himself. He objected to niggers, and said it was a disgrace to England, to have so many of them there.

The magistrate held that Jones was the offender. He had taunted and insulted Edwards. He would be convicted and lined £3, in default seven days’ imprisonment. The information against Edwards would be dismissed.