ASSAULTING THE POLICE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 51, 22 February 1876, Page 2

ASSAULTING THE POLICE.

The same men were charged with assaulting the police, and obstructing them in the discharge of their duty. The Inspector of Police having stated the case against them, called Sergeant Nash, who said: An officer of the ship came to the station last night, and informed me that four men were absent without leave. I went with him and Constable Cooper to the Exchange Hotel. I spoke to the men one at a time, aud told them what I wanted. There was a bit of a squabble, aud then Reilly said " I have a knife." He drew it with his left hand, and placed it in his right, and said " I'll rip you up." I stepped on one side, and let him have it with my baton. Annis had a stone in his hand, and he closed with me, and I was thrown down and knocked about a good deal. P. Madge : I am third officer of the Hibernia. I came to the Police Station for the men who had left the ship, aud went with the constables to the Exchange Hotel. Reilly refused to go, and then there was a row, and glasses were flying about. I heard something about a knife, and saw Reilly put his haud behind him to his knife. This was before he was struck. Smith, Hunter, and Reilly are bad characters, and were very troublesome on board. Joseph Bradcock : Between eight and nine last night I was called upon to assist the police at the Exchange Hotel, where the four prisoners were. Annis had a tumber aud Reilly & knife in his hand. Reilly threatened to kill Nash. I saw all four of them on top of Sergt. Nash. I pulled two of them off him. Constable Cooper was then assisting Nash, but the police were not strong enough to take them. They were arrested afterwards. His Worship, in addressing the prisoners, who declined to say anything, said— You, Reilly, app"ear to have had a severe blow, but I may as well state the law with regard to* the pob'e3man's right to use his baton. In the event of a prisoner under arrest merely refusing to go to the lockup, he is not justified iv striking, him, but should he, after being lawfully arrested, attempt to inflict auy bodily harm, then the policeman has a clear right to make use of the weapon with which he is provided. It is proved beyond doubt that you, Reilly, drew your knife, and the police might have Jaid a more serious charge against you, which would have resulted in your committal lor trial, and probably receiving a far more severe sentence thau I can pass upon you, which is that you be imprisoned for three months with hard labor. The other three, for resisting and assaulting the police, will |

be stntenced to one mouth's imprisonment with hard labor.