LYTTELTON.

Press, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4640, 15 June 1880, Page 3

LYTTELTON.

Monday, June 4. [Before J. Beswick, Esq., 8.M., and T. H. Potts, Esq., J. P.] Thb Suhday Distubbanob.^—John Walsh wee charged with behaving on Sunday in a way whereby a breach of the peace took place, and with assaulting Constables Oleary and Henry. Constable Oleary testified that he saw the accused fighting, and when he attempted to arrest him he ran away. Subsequently the constable saw him strike another man, and when witness oame up he struck at him and ran to the wharf. William J. Simmonds, proprietor of the Lyttelton Hotel, saw the accused strike the man and afterwards strike at the constable. Constable Henry said when he arrived on the scene at the wharf Constable Oleary was trying to take the prisoner in charge. The prisoner was very violent, and attempted to bite the witness. There was a] great disturbance, an immense crowd having assembled. The prisoner was not intoxicated. At the request of Sergeant-Major Mason, the Bench took the evidence against the other prisoners. Edward Oronin and James Cronin were then charged with obstructing the constables and with assaulting Constable Henry. Constable Henry said the accused kicked him and sucoeeded in releasing the prisoner Walsh from custpdy twice. .They tried to inoite the mob and shouted out that; they, the police, would never be able to take Walsh into custody. Thomas Bobinson, a resident of Christohuroh, on a vieit to the port, said he saw the two prisoners striking constable Henry and were kioking him. The same prisoners and John Carry, John Stirling, William Lindsay, Thomas Glencross, and William Thompson were then brought up, charged with wilfully obstructing the police. Sergeant-Major Mason addressed the Bench upon the disgraoeful scene whioh had occurred on Sunday afternoon. The polioe had - almost been overpowered by the mob that collected around the prisoner Walsh. To some of the better class of on-lookers from Christohuroh, and some residents here, and the captains of the vessels, the police were indebted for helping to quell the riot, but there were a great many civilians present whom be was sorry were not now in the prisoners' box in their stead, so nnwarrantable was their conduct on the occasion hi inciting the men to resist. Constables Oleary *knd Henry then gave evidence of tsh» resistance of the prisoners, and identified them individually as having obstructed them in making arrests. Prisoner Thompson was very violent, and the Cronins and Stirling were most violent.- Constable Henry could identify all the prisoners but Curry. Thomas Bobiason, called, said—The crowd around at the time were doing all they could to prevent the polioe making the arrest. He never saw a man used worse by the crowd than the constable was when he was endeavoring to arrest Walsh. He never saw a more unsympathetic'crowd in his life. The constable was not using any unnecessary violenoe; so far from that, he was extremely 000 l and self-possessei.' At one time, the crowd had so jostled the constable that he was in danger of being pushed over the wharf. The captain of the Aminta was called, but said he was too far away to testify to the identity of the accused. He saw a most disgraceful disturbance, but could not say what it was about. The prisoners then made a statement denying the charge. Sergeant-Major Mason said that the constables informed him that the obstruction caused by Lindsay was not a bad case. It was a slight obstruction at the end of the proceedings. The Bench adverted to the evidenoe about the oonduot of the bystanders. The resistance to the polioe had been most determined, and they were determined to put such disturbances down. It was all, they thought, brought on by diink. The prisoner Walsh was then sentenced to one month and fourteen days' imprisonment with hard labor; the two Cronins each to twentyeight days' hard labor; Thompson, fourteen days, and Curry and Glenoross forty-eight hours each. Lindsay and Stirling were discharged. The Benoh expressed their satisfaction at the action of the police, against whom no evidenoe showing that they had used unnecessary harshness had been given. On the contrary it had been shown that they used every forbearance, such as did them credit under the circumstances. Labobnt ok a Flagship.—William Cook 1 was charged with larceny of a gold watch and chain, the property of John Hunt, the larceny being committed on Eegatta Day at Auckland. Prisoner was then the steward of the flagship, the s.s. Taiaroa, and he was now arrested on board the ship Q-areloch. The polioe asked that he be remanded. Bemanded until Tuesday. Laroekt on thb TbhvbliYAX. —Henry Jennings was charged with stealing a number of artioles belonging to Captain Boberts, of j the Trevelyan, where he had held the position of steward. He was remanded until Friday next. NseiECTiNe his Famtt.y.—Bobert Park was charged, with this offence, and .was remanded in custody until next Friday.