A RIOTOUS CROWD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 864, 12 July 1910, Page 4

A RIOTOUS CROWD.

DISGRACEFUL, SCENES IN

DUNEDIN,

FOUR MEN ARRESTED

Dunkdin, July 10

One of the most disgraceful scenes witnessed here for a long time took place last evening. About 9.4.5 o’clock the police had occasion to make an arrest, and for fully an hour after that they had their hands full in coping with a mob of disorderly people some hundreds strong, who took almost complete charge of affairs for the time being. At the time mentioned above, Sergeant Eccles and Constable Sweeney arrested a man named John Wilson on a charge of disorderly conduct while druuk. As they were taking him down to the cab, Wilson’s brother appeared on the scene, and, it is asserted, assaulted Constable Sweeney, striking him on the back of the head and cheek. This man was immediately arrested by Sergeant Eccles. The crowd quickly gathered, and it was with the utmost difficulty that the police got their prisoners to the station. The road and footpath were crowded with an excited mob, who made a violent demonstration against the officers of the law. After much difficulty the two Wilsons were got into the cab, but when the driver was ready to start, it was found that the harne straps had been undone. But in the course of time the police safelylodged both men in the cells.

About half an hour later it was found necessary to make another arrest, and on this occasion the disgraceful scene was repeated. Several stones were thrown during the disturbance, and one of the cab windows was smashed.

John Wilson will be charged with drunkenness, obscene language, and resisting the police; David Wilsou with assaulting and resisting the police, and with using obscene language. As a result of the demonstration two other men named Walter Spence and Charles Graham were also arrested, the former on a charge ot being drunk and disorderly and inciting the crowd to assault Constable Sweeney, and the latter on a charge of obstructing the police and assaulting Constable Fox.

The trouble is believed to be due to the unpopularity ot one of the constables. After the arrests had been effected another constable, who was mistaken for the one against whom there is much feeling, went up the street, and a crowd ot fully 200 followed him up High Street, through the Arcade, and down MacLaggan and Rattray Streets to Princes Street.