QUEER POLICE METHODS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 169, 16 January 1914, Page 4

QUEER POLICE METHODS.

.NEW ZEALAXDERS' ADVENTURE IM SAN FHAN'OISCO. By Telegraph.—Press Association. ) i Cliristcliurch, January 13. The methods of the American police, as portrayed in the play "'WUbin tta Law," at present being performed in this city, compare so unfavorably with British and colonial police procedure -that many theatre-goers must harbor a suspicion that the production is a malicious libel on the police administration •of tJn> Ibig American cities. A little in. cident which occurred during the sojourn of the New Zealand football team •in San Francisco recently, however, contained . fmtures which corroborate tho uspccts of police work presented in the\ play. • Four of the Xew Zealand'ers, one o£ them a Cliristcliurch nwn, were vmlkingalong tlio streets in the Oilifornian capital in 'tho evening, when a man jostled ono of them in passing. The Xew Kealandcr said, "1 beg your pardon," and passed 011, ibut the incident mi not closed. The man flew into a temper and said, "Beg pardon he damned!" Then ho put a whiisttle to his lips, policy, ■men flocked to tho socne, the patrol waggon 4'rove up, and the four New ZealiuideiH were Jodged in the lock-up on 11 charge of "'disorderly conduct and resisting the police." They were not •uncfcsr the inftuenco of liquor, their conduct wna not disorderly, and they did not resist the police.

. Tile next net in the little, drama was tho arrival at the police depot of Hit* manager of the hotel «t which they were staying Jto evidently had a "pull'," ( for as soon he demanded the reloago of his guests, tliey were let out without even tho fnrnulity of bail. The lH'\t morning they attended at court and were formally charged with the ofTenco for which lliey had been arrested. Tito ■Magistrate heard the charge read, and then without hearing a word of evidence in (Support of tile charge snapped out the word "Dismissed," and the ease wag over.

■ Tho Now Zcalanders were told afterwards tliat had they not had a friend a,t count in the shape of the hotel manHgcr they would have Iwii convicted and lined in an equally summary manner.