DRUNKEN TROOPERS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 206, 8 February 1915, Page 4

DRUNKEN TROOPERS.

CAUSE TROUBLE IN* WELLINGTON*. By Telegraph.—Per Tress Association. Wellington, Last Night. Thnrc was a regrettable, occurence in tlie city on Saturday night, when, through the stupid conduct of two members of the reinforcements encamped at Trentham, a serious brawl took place in Manners street. Just before 10 o'clock Constable Devine, of the Planners street station, arrested a trooper named James John Clayton for being drunk and disorderly. The arrest took place near Everybody's Theatre, and a crowd quickly collected, lis the constable proceeded to place Clayton in a cab there was much shouting and disorder, and a number of men pushed forward, presumably with the idea of rescuing the trooper from the arms of the law. Amongst these'men was a trooper in plain clothes named Robert Brown, and lie is alleged to have been foremost in the attempt to interfere with the arrest. Constable Thorn, in plain clothes, was at hand, and when he in his turn arrested Brown there was an ugly demonstration. The struggle, to arrest both men was a lively affair, in which the crowd took sides, mostly against the police. Matters were made much worse through a number of women and children being enclosed in the crush, and the proceedings were of a very mixed character for some minutes. More police arrived from the stations about the city, and eventually the two offenders were got away to Lambton Quay Police Station. Several constables were mauled, but were not injured, although the two troopers will have to answer charges to-morrow morning of having damaged uniforms, as well as charges of assault and resisting the police.