A VIOLENT RESISTANCE

Wairarapa Age, 29 March 1920, Page 5

A VIOLENT RESISTANCE

•FOREIGNER FIGHTS POLICE. t'- ' A somewhat disorderly scene occurred in Masterton on Saturday night, when the police attempted to arrest a foreigner named Anton Hasu, who appeared to be acting in a queer manner on the public street. At about 11.30 o 'clock,, when Constables , Singleton and ■ Gurden were walking in Queen Street, their attention was drawn to a man who seemed* to be acting in a somewhat erratic manner on the opposite side of the road. On being told to go home by Constable Gurden, Hasu dealt the Constable a heavy blow on the chest, and violently resisted, knocking Constable Singleton's helmet off, when the Constables attempted to grapple with him. Again, when in the vicinity of the police station, Hasu fought desperately, and did his utmost to escape from, the officers, who were forced to handcuff him. Hasu appeared to kave the strength- of a lion, and would have been a very difficult man to handle if two constables had not been present. He was, however, finally landed in the lock-up, and since then has behaved in a very docile manner.

Hasu is reported to be a Russian Finn, and had been working in the country. He is a sturdily built man, in the pink of condition, as his valiant efforts at resistance testified. On Friday last the police received complaints from the Prince of Wales Hotel, owing to the peculiar behaviour of Hasu, who, when then interviewed by a conostable, appeared to be perfectly normal. He will be medically examined, and, if found necessary, dealt with to-day. ' The' only damage, fortunately,- resulting from the fras was to Constable Gurden's watch.