MOB FIGHTING THE POLICE

Shannon News, 20 April 1926, Page 4

MOB FIGHTING THE POLICE

FRACAS IN A IOSI/BOURNE SUBXKB When constables from the Pitzroy Police Station, in Melbourne, attempted to arrest a man who is alleged to have assaulted and robbed' Thomas O'Connor of a watch and gold chain, they were threatened by a hostile crowd numbering some 400 men and J women. Several of the policemen s were struck from behind, and the {situation became so ugly that Seniorl Constable Goodson was obliged to I communicate with Russell Street and ask for the assistance of the night patrol. Constables Wise, Duncan, Hatley and Riley were driven to the 'scene of the disturbance in one of the night patrol cars. The trouble started outside an hotel when a man who is well-known to the police- was seen to strike O'Connor in the mouth. When the latter placed his hands, to his fac.j in an instinctive act of self-preservation to Avard off further blows, the man is alleged to have made a dive at O'Connor's waistcoat and seized hi.s watch and gold chain. The victim of the alleged robbery cried out "Stop thief!" A spectator r went to O'Connor's assistance and attempted to wrench the watch sind chain from the man's hands. , He was struck a blow on the mouth, and reeled backwards. The man, however, dropped the watch and chain on the footpath. Hearing the noise of the scuffle, Constable Tratford ran to the scene, and attempted to place the man under arrest; At once a'large crowd gathered and surrounded the constable. He was in imminent danger of being maltreated, w}ieh Constables Pearson, McNulty and Lees drew their batons and sprang to his assistance. Senior Constable * Goodson was then apprised of the serious trouble which was brewing outside the hotel, and he lost no time in joining his men. Progress Barred by Crowd

By this time the crowd had swelled until there were fully 400 men and women in the street. Constable Tratford was wrestling with the suspect on the ground and trying to ,handcuff him, when the man's brother is alleged to have sprung at him from behind and dealt him a cowardly blow on the head. Tratford managed to get one of the handcuffs on the man's wrist, but owing to his violent strug-, gles and the interference of the crowd he could not complete the operation. Senior-Constable Goodson fastened his handcuffs on the wrist of the man who was already manacled, but the latter managed to free himself and dash into the crowd. The constables attempted to follow''him, but their progress was barred by the infuriated crowd, whose sympathy, apparently, was with the lawbreakers. Dragged into Hotel Despite the threatening attitude of the mob the little band of constables effected the arrest of th man who is alleged to have assaulted Constable Tratford. They dragged him into the hotel and held him while Senior-Con-otable Goodson telephoned ( police headquarters for reinforcements. Out•side the mob demanded the release of. the prisonerr, but nobody was indiscreet enough to aittempt-to force his way into the hotel. Baulked in their object to release the prisoner from the clutches of the police, a number of hooligans vented .tlieir spleen on the cab driver who had been waiting outside.the hotel at the orders of the police to drive the prisoners to the watch-house. Stones and other missiles were thrown at the cab driver. He was dragged from his seat, and the horse and vehicle were driven along Brunswick Street. At the Pitaroy watch-house Arthur Monar, 43 years, driver, was charged with having assaulted Senior-Constable Goodson and Constable Tratford, and with offensive behaviour. Later the. police arrested: Alfred Monar, 31 years, driver, and chaged liim with assault and robbery, and with resisting the police.