A DISGRACEFUL SCENE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 169, 19 July 1910, Page 2

A DISGRACEFUL SCENE.

CONSTABLE EOUGHLY HANDLED. BY A COWARDLY MOB. On Thursday night of last -week Constable Power attempted to, and actually did, arrest a .burly wharf labourer who was drunk, and who was using obscene language. Some of his friends came along and incited him to resist and to 'brean away from custody, which, with their assistance, he eventually succeeded in doing. There was a struggle lasting some twenty-five minutes, during which time a crowd of 150 people ■ collected. There was only one man in the crowd who interfered tp save the constable from injury, and against so many his assistance did not avail much. Of the others four were arresteu, and this morning were charged with various offences in the Police Court, before Mr B. C. Cutten, SJU.

William Riches was the man "who was the origin of the trouble, for he was the man whom Constable Power arrested in the first instance. He was charged with drunkenness, obscene language, assaulting the constable, and with damaging his uniform.

Mr Matthews (for Mr Lundon) appeared for tlie accused, and on his behalf entered a plea of "Guilty." He submitted that accused had Been drunk, and that all the rest of the 'business was the result of his excited drunken condition. Mr Matthews pleaded also that his client was a hard-working, decent fellow, who had always hitherto borne an excellent character.

Sub-inspector Hendrey put rather a different complexion on the stor) , , saying that the case was one of the worst of which he had had experience. The fact that the accused was not charged with wilful murder was not.his fault, for he had told a man with him to take from his belt a deadly weapon—a lumper's hook—and "put it into" the constable. The man had been' warned three times to go Qiome quietly, but had not taken the advice. When arrested he was alone, and until his blackguardly companions rejoined him Hie gave the officer no trouble, 'but when they came and incited him to resist he kicked and fought the constable with all his strength. The constable, an athletic young fellow, but by no means a heavy man, was overpowered >by the crowd, and Ritches escaped. Twice this happened after serious struggles, during which the policeman was kicked on every part of the body and also on the head and face, and twice he followed up his man and caught him. His clothes were muddied and torn, and he was bleeding freely from the nose aid mouth, but he pursued Jiis man after he had been rescued a third time. Then it was that a friend of the accused struck' him a heavy blow on the jaw, and put him out of action.

Accused was convicted on his own plea, but the magistrate preferred not to sentence him until he had heard the evidence as adduced in the other cases.

Ernanuel Newton waa charged that he assaulted Constable Power in the execution of his duty, and further that ho obstructed Constable Power -in the execution of his duty.

John Murton and Angus Fletcher were charged that they incited persons to obstruct Constable Power in the execution of his dut-v.

Mr. Matthews (for Mr. Lundon) appeared for accused Newton and Fletcher, and Mr. \V. E, liackett for Murton.

Constable Power corroborated the account of the affair given by the SubInspector. He said that Newton obstructed him several times—in fact, all the time, and that he struck (witness) the blow on the jaw which ended the affair. The other two were always in the front of the crowd surrounding him. He waa sure they incited the crowd to obstruct, but he could not say with certainty that they were of thoae who kicked him.

Constable Power, continuing his evidence, said that he arrested Kewton the day after the occurrence in the Police Court precincts. Newton denied at first that he knew anything about the affair, but admitted later that lie did know something of it, and asked witness ■whether he was the constable assaulted. He would not give hie name and address, but offered to go round and find out what he could about the business. He admitted also that he had been in the company of two other men the previous night, and that the threes of them had been twice cautioned about their conduct an that evening. MurtoE witness arrested in Queen-street the evening after the assault. He admitted having been present at the disturbance, but he denied having incited anyone to resist. He said that lie had se"en three men spoken to by a constable. One of the three was Newton, but lie did not know the otiiers. (Proceeding.)