A FRACTIOUS GERMAN.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1564, 15 June 1916, Page 2

A FRACTIOUS GERMAN.

EIGHTS HIS GUARDS ON THE

WHARF,

Considerable excitement was caused on the wharf yesterday afternoon (says the Dominion) by the arrival there from town of a struggling bunch of soldiers and civilians, in the midst of whom was a Gei'man violently resisting his escort to the steajner Pilot, which was to convey him to Somes Island. It appears that tile enemy subject, by name Charles Johnston, and wellknown here in pre-war days as “German Charlie," a showman and wrestler, was sent in from the island earlier in the day under escort to attend to some affairs in connection with some property of his. During his sojourn in the City, Johnston became embroiled in some rather heated arguments with wayfarers, and as lime went on became exceedingly fractious and demonstrative. The escort, under Sergeant Williams had much difficulty in steering the angry German wharfwards. Johnston is an extraordinarily powerful and thick-set individual, and when approaching the Pilot, which was berthed near the Custom House, he became quite unmanageable, a willing rough and tumble ensuing. A constable went to the assistance of the escort, and the German was handcuffed.

A large crowd had by this time assembled, and the German had practically to be dragged to the ship, struggling desperately the while and shout in*? obscene epithets at the English race in general. Willing hands literally bundled the man on to the Pilot, which immediately backed away from the wharf. As tin* little vessel cleared the wharf Johnston was still seen to he lighting hard with bis small soldier escort. Considerable credit is due to Sergeant Williams, who handled tin* huge German with both pluck and skill.

If was ascertained on inquiries at Somes Island last evening that Johnston had been safely conveyed to his island home and had been put in a cell pending an inquiry.