DISGRACEFUL RIOT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8467, 18 June 1907, Page 7

DISGRACEFUL RIOT.

FOOTBALL MATCH SEQUEL. A disgraceful riot occurred at the gates of the South Melbourne Cricket Ground at the termination of the Geelong - South Melbourne football match on the afternoon of June 3rd. For close upon an hour a mob of about 1,000 lawless youths and men struggled and fought outside the gates, defying the efforts of the police to restrain them. According to the Argus, the trouble arose from two causes. A band of larrikins stood blocking the egress from the gates, as they loudly discussed the relative strength of the South Melbourne and St. Kilda football teams. In a very short time threats of blows were exchanged, and coarse language was bawled across the reserve. Close at hand another knot of "barrackers" had surrounded an old man. who was wearing the colours of the St. • Kima team. At first, while the argument was confined to expresions of opinion, the old man had the best of it, but before long his persetutors commenced to lay rough Vbfhands upon him. One stalwart fellow,six feet in height, lifted his fist and shook it threateningly in the old man's face. "That's the game, Billy," yelled his companions. "Pitch into him!" Just then Constable Denham, of Middle Park, broke through the circle and ranged alongside the old man. "Stand back!" he cried, but his order was ignored. Instead they pressed closer in. Someone on the outside of the circle picked up a large piece of road metal and threw it in the direction of the constable. Then the riot began. The first stone was followed by a dozen others, fists were clenched, and blows were struck here, there and everywhere. Already the first circle had merged itself into the second and for the first few minutes the fight was one between South Melbourne and St. Kilda supporters. After that it became a contest between a pack of excited ruffians and a handful of police. Football was forgotten and •instead crizs of into the traps" rose on all sides. Those on the outside of the crowd jolted and jammed their way towards the centre. Two women fainted and were carried away to a quiet part of the reserve where they soon recovered. v Constable Burke and Constable Denham early lost their helmets which were temporarily converted into footballs and kicked out of shape. Plain i clothes Constables M'Phee and M'Kenzie forced their way through to where Denharn was standing. Twice Denham and Bourke were knocked down, and it was M'Phee and M'Kenzie who prevented the crowd from trampling over the prostrate bodies of their comrades. After three-quarters of an hour of rioting word was sent round that police reinforcements were on their way to the reserve. The crowd speedily dispersed; and Senior Constable Ryan was left to rally his ten police constables and to receive his casualty report. Contsable Denham had been severely cut about the face, and several of the others had received minor injuries. A man named William Joiner was arrested on three charges of having assaulted Constables Denham and M'Kenzie, and of having wilfully damaged M'Kenzie's hat. A youth named Victor Leggatt was arrested on a charge of having incited Joiner to resist the police.