Broken Hill Strike.

Manawatu Herald, 1 November 1892, Page 2

Broken Hill Strike.

The trial of the Broken Hill strikers, at Deniliquin, has formed the all absorbing topic in the city, and intense interest was manifested in the result. Butcher was found not guilty and discharged. His Honor, in passing sentence, said he had a painful duty to perform, as it was a terrible thing to see men like the prisoners before a court of justice at all. Sleath and Fergusson were each sentenced to two years' imprisonment ; Hewitt, Hoiking and Home, each to 18 raonth|i ; Hebei'te to nine months and Bennett to three | months. All the accused will have hard labour. In the oases of assault <

against unionists, there was one conviction and three acquittals. Unities, for riotous behaviour, was sentenced to eight months' imprisonment. The prevailing opinion among the men at Broken Hill was that the members of the Labour Defence Commission would be acquitted, and the result has caused dismay. A mass meeting was held in the Domain, when petitions were signed demanding the release of the members of the Broken Hill Labour Defence Commission. A monster meeting is to be held for the same object. A large mob attacked several free labourers at Broken Hill» The police arrested one of the offenders, whom the mob tried to rescue. Dining the melee four of the police were injured by stones and other missiles. Addressing a meeting of miners at Broken Hill, a recently appointed Justice of the Peace urged the workers to get into power, seize the Magistracy and put their own. men on the Bench, so that they could get the verdict they wished Then, when they got Gatling guns and troopers, they could, if occasion re. quired it, trample down ruthlessly the class which opposed them. r-r Press Association.