A HOOTING MOB.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 November 1917, Page 2

A HOOTING MOB.

BRUSH WITH THE MILITARY POLICE. Wellington, Nov. 5. A brush took place in Willis Street on Saturday night between a number of civilians and some military police, which was prevented from developing into a mild riot by the timely arrival of a number of civilian police. Shortly after 10 p.m. on Saturday four military policemen were escorting a couple of military prisoners along Willis street, on their way to the Alexandra Barracks, when a man in civilian clothes is alleged to have called out to the two prisoners, "Give it a go, don't let them take you!" It is stated that the civilian went close up to the prisoners and struck the sergeant-major of the military police. Other statements assert that blows were exchanged between the civilian and one of the escort. SergeantMajor Crowther, who had charge of the "red caps," found that the action of the civilians were spurring the crowd to interfere, so lie decided to take the two prisoners into th e Y.M.O.A. buildings. Civilian police at this juncture came on the scene. A hooting, howling, jostling mob surounded the "red caps," who. however, got their prisoners into the Y.M.C.A. premises. Sergeant-Maior Crowther then pointed out a man to the civilian police as being the cause of the disturbance. Constable Brennan thereupon arrested the suspect, who will be brought before the S.M. Court this morning under two eharsres of breaches of the War Regulations—interfering with the miljtary police v.lu'.. m the execution of tneir duty, and with inciting others to interfere. The accused is stated to be a returned soldier.