Savage Attack Upon Free Labourers.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 8 November 1890, Page 2

Savage Attack Upon Free Labourers.

Lambton-fpiay la^t night iWednesday) was chosen as the scene of a disgraceful act of rowdyism, and it is to he devoutly hoped that Ihe authors of it will be made a severe example of if the police art* fortunate enough in finding out tho names of the wholo of them. It seem? that just about 10 o'el ck, r>.a c-nvcril of tho members of the recently formed Fieo Labourers' Association, who had just finished a meeting, were leaving the Exchange Buildings, they were sot upon, and four or five of them most unmercifu'ly pounded by a gang of roughs, said to bo principaby stokers and greasers. Donald Munro, a member of tlie Association, was knocked down and kicked and badly cut ahoufc the mouth and face, Harry Salmon was struck heavily upon the side of the neck a'-d severely bruised, whilst Thos. E. T. <lah* had both eyes blackened and his nose and face damaged. Constables Button aud Mullane arrived npon the scene in tlie midst of the row, and as Mu"ro had secured ono man out of tho crowd, named John M'D.u*mott, < onstablo Mutton took charge of him. 'Ihe others immediately a'torwards made off in various directions, and were speedily lost sight of. \ Constable Hutton, in reporting the 1 oceurrance to his superior officor, ' says that the pavement after the 1 fray was over was bespattered with b'ood for a distance of halfa-chain, ' and the b'ood clots were visible today. The men attacked are of opinion that tho assault was deliberaI tely planned, M'Dermott, who is one . of the firemen who recently went out i on strike, was brousht up in the ' Magistrate's Court this morning, and t separately charged with having comt mit'ed unprovoked assau ts upon • Munro and Salmon, Mr Uoates apl pea red in his defence, and requested > an adjournment of the case owing to 1 the short time allowed him for prel paring a deience. Sergt-Major - Ramsay was prepared to proceed with it at once, but Mr Eobinson, IJ. 3 M., agreed to alow the case to stand i over until to-morrow. The accused • was allowed bail on his own bond of > £20 and two sureties of £10 e;'ch. . Mr I bourns Reward, boardinghouse-l-eeper, immediately went bail, liefore M'Dermot. was released a third ■ information was sworn against him , in consequence of his having been . identified as the man who assaulted i G.ile. He will have to answer this i charge with others to-moirow. Mr f D. P. Fisher became surety for his l appearance on the last named charge. . Post.