DISGRACEFUL MELEE IN WELLINGTON.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1747, 14 August 1917, Page 3

DISGRACEFUL MELEE IN WELLINGTON.

POLICE ATTACKED. MOUNTED.MEN CLEAR THE STREET. HOSTILITY OP THE CROWD. An occurence on Saturday night in the vicinity of Cuba and Vivian Streets, Wellington, caused great excitement. The trouble arose, says (lie Post, over the arrest of a fireman on a charge of drunkenness — but the melee that followed was one of the most serious in the history of -the city. A huge crowd was attracted to the scene, and the great hostility shown to the police was, to say the-least, surprising. The riot lasted for nearly two hours —from before 10 o'clock to nearly midnight. According to the police, a drunken fireman refused to quit the Imperial Hotel, Cuba Street, and bis behaviour was sin-h as to necessitate police action. Constable M'Call later arrived on the scene, but as the fireman still refused to listen to reason, he was arrested, and handciiltVd. I’pon going into the street with his charge the constable was pounced upon by two of the arrested man's companions, and this was followed by several of the crowd joining in the fray. The crowd succeeded in its object to such an extent that the arrested man and the constable's assailants got away. At Ibis stage it was found necessary to summon reinforcements, and Sergeant Cruickslianks, of Mount Cook, arrived on the seeing and assisted Constable M'Call in gelling' an oh- , st rucl.or to the Police, Station. Constable Dowling next came along, and succeeded in handcuffing an offender. The latter resisted violently, Iml (lie constable proved equal to the occasion. When tilt; pair reached \ cilch and Allan’s corner they were joined by Constable Cox, who was in plain clothes. At this stage oi the proceedings the crowd was particularly hostile, and it is alleged that soldiers took a prominent part. Constable Cox was brutally attacked by the mob. He was knocked down and kicked, and bis injuries prevented him from reporting for duly on Sunday. Coining in numbers, and also in violence, (he crowd caused the police anxiety, and it was deemed inexpedient to attempt to gel through. The situation required prompt; measures, and the constables look re luge for the moment in a confectioner's shop. The doors were, immediately .fastened, and the constables resolved to await reinforcements. During the proceedings, Constable M'Call and Sergeant Cmickslmnks bad placed their men safely under lock - ami key, and proceeded hack to Vivian Street. The hostility of the crowd had by this time increased considerably. The window of the shop was broken, and the police were literally besieged by a raging, yelling mob. It was now found necessary to adopt sterner measures, and a squad of mounted police v.as despatched to the scene. With the assistance of a detachment from Taranaki Street, the mounted men succeeded in clearing the’ street. Tin* prisoner was (hen brought out. I he hostility of the crowd was renewed at this, and (he police were attacked with hollies and other missiles. Subsequently the law prevailed, and seven men were arrested in connection with the affair. MEN IX COURT. Tin* .Magistrate's Court was crowded yesterday morning when the eight arrested men appeared before Mr S. E. .M'Carlhy, S.M., to answer serious charges. The name's of the accused persons were* as follow: —Harvey Nicholls, Robert Bertram Warner, Sydney Reid, Henry Jensen, dohn Johns, Ernest l.eshke, Terence Howler, and William Ernest Eordhaui. In opening the cases for the prosecution, Subhispcctor Dew described the affair as disgraceful and disgusting. It n;h true that some of the public assisted the police, but, generally speaking, (he crowd was particularly hostile to the police. 11c pressed for heavy penalties, and in doing so emphasised the seriousness of inieiTering with the police. In consequence of the war, the police force was greatly depleted, and it was found necessary to employ young and comparaiively inexperienced men. It was even more necessary now than at any other lime that the police should he protected.

Harvey Nichuils. the lireman who is alleged to have been the cause of the whole trouble, was charged with refusing to quit licensed premises, resisting Constables M’Call and Dowling, using obscene language, and damaging a pair of trousers, a wristlet watch, and a constable's helmet, to (he total value of ,C(1 Is lid. Xicholls pleaded guilty to some of the charges and not guilty to the others. lie was not represented by counsel. The evidence, which generally bore out the facts as stated above, showed that the public was called upon to assist the police, but failed to respond. A witness stated that at: one stage there were fully two dozen men assaulting the one constable. The accused was given every opportunity of going away quietly in the first place, but he was in a mood for trouble. Giving evidence on his own behalf. the accused said he was drunk at the time, otherwise the trouble would not have occurred. A young man in the hotel had told him that he ought to be in the army, and he had become very excited in consequence. THREE MONTHS’ IMPRISONMENT. The Magistrate: You were evi-

dently drunk and quarrelsome on this night, and the licensee was quite justified in putting, you out. The fact that .you were drunk at Ihe time is your own business. It is useless for you to say that you would not have resisted if the crowd ha'd not interfered; you started to resist before the crowd gathered.

Accused was ordered to make good the damage done, and for resisting the police he was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment. On the charge of drunkenness he was convicted and discharged, for refusing to quit the licensed premises he was fined 40s, with the alternative of serving fourteen days in gaol, while in respect of the obscene language he was convicted and ordered to pome up for sentence. Sydney Reid was fined £5, or in default one month; John Johns £lO, or two months; Terence Bowler (a soldier) £5, in default one month, for using obscene language and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon for inciting to resist.