AT MERCY OF MOB.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 125, 28 May 1932, Page 17

AT MERCY OF MOB.

ONE POLICEMAN'S STORY.

STUNNED BY STONES.

"COULD NOT KEEP IN SADDLE."

A graphic account of the riot in Queen Street, Auckland, last month, is contained in a mounted constable's report to his superior officers, released for publication by the Commissioner of Police, Mr. W. G. Wohlmann.

The report, from which the names of the constable and his colleagues have been deleted, is an unvarnished story of one man's experience during the struggle with the luajfc It is as follows: —

"I beg to report that during the evening of April 14, while standing by for orders at Government House, where mounted conetables were on duty with troop horses saddled, Constable , motor driver, informed us that we were all wanted at once at the Town Hall, where a. riot was taking place.

"We at once trotted to the Town Hall. A large crowd was then across the Queen Street intersection, apparently in an ugly mood. Soon after I had left Rutland Street I received a stone on the left side of the face which nearly knocked mo out and which caused my left eye to rapidly close, and I wae completely stunned. Followed Automatically. "I followed Constable automatically, and as far as I can remember we received orders to clear the street. I cannot remember who actually gave the order. We commenced to clear the crowd after getting through to the south side of them and moving them toward the north side of Queen Street, when a foot constable whose name or who he was I cannot remember, said we were wanted at Airedale Street. All the time stones, etc.; were being thrown at us.

"Another mounted constable and I went to Airedale Street, but as to what took place there I have no recollection, except that just as we were returning into Queen Street a large plate glass window on the corner of Airedale Street was broken and etones fell about me. The crash of the glass apparently brought me to my senses, as I remember that the street was then clear except for some persons who were well •up Airedale Street near the junction of St. Paul's Street.

"My head was aching—l had apparently been hit with stones on the back. The other mounted cpnetable and I then assisted the other three mounted constables to clear the street in front of the north side of the Town Hall. I was then on the extreme left of the mounted constables and was the nearest target for those people on the western side of Queen Street. Target for Stone-throwers. *<owing to the density of the crowd and there not being enough mounted men to clear both. footpaths and the road in Queen Street at the same time, I had perforce to look after the western footpath and ako •as far as possible push back the crowd in the road on the western side of the street, while the other mounted constables wero clearing the eastern side of Queen Street, including the footpath. We were all in line pushing the crowd back in the road toward Wakefield Street.

"Meanwhile the crowd were throwing stones, etc., and, being nearest to those on the western footpath, I was struck several times with stones, being again hit in the left eide of the face, which then, started to bleed; also at the back of the head, on the left side of the ribs and body, and left knee.

"By this time I was bleeding profusely from the back of the head and face, but kept on until we had turned the crowd at Wakefield Street corner, when apparently a revolver shot was fired either in or outside a second-hand shop on the corner of Wakefield Street.

"There were criee of T/ynch him!' and as the crowd were then in a very dirty mood, gave orders to clear the crowd in Wakefield Street. As far as I remember we did this while the other mounted constables attended to Queen Street. Dizzy From Loss of Blood. "I was hit several times with stones in Wakefield Street, but not seriously, and when returning down the hill in Wakefield Street toward Queen Street I became very dizzy and wanted to fall from the saddle, as X had been losing too much blood from the left side of the face and the back of the head.

"I informed ■ that I had loet too much blood and could not keep in the saddle and to get someone for my horse. ordered me to the St. John Ambulance in Eutlanfl Street, and, still being mounted, I pushed through the crowd outside the Clarendon Hotel, Although there were the usual stones and bottles thrown at me, as far as I can remember I was not again hit.

"I do not remember riding on the horse through Rutland Street, and the next thing I remember was that I was spoken to by constables outside the Girls' Home in the vicinity of Wellesley Street. I then got off the- horse and handed the horse to Constable -—, and then went into the St. John Ambulance, where I was attended to by a doctor, and, with. Constable , went in an ambulance to the Auckland Hospital, where I had stitches put in the face and the back of the head-

"After having the stitches put in I must have collapsed, as later I was on a stretcher and was vomiting, being admitted to hospital suffering from concussion, a double fracture of the bones under the left eye, and injuries to the ribs and other minor bruises.

'1 was discharged from hospital on May 2. lam progres3ing ag well as can be expected, but am still very shaky, suffering from headaches and pains in the vicinity of the ribs. On two occasions my ribs were X-rayed nt the hospital and it was found there was no fracture, but apparently the rib muscles were damaged.

"As my tunic, riding breeches, and cap were damaged by blood, I am reporting this matter on a separate file. , '