DISTURBANCE IN LICHFIELD STREET.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9842, 27 September 1897, Page 5

DISTURBANCE IN LICHFIELD STREET.

THE "RIOT ACT" READ,

Not for a number of years has suoh an uproar taken place in this city as was the case last evening in Lichfield street, shortly after the conclusion of Mr Worthington's lecture. During the progress of the meeting a large crowd gathered outside the hall, but no demonstration was made beyond somo occasional hooting. At the conclusion of the lecture aud service Mr Worthington came out of the front door of the hall, where he was heard to remark that he had engaged a cab to take him home, but it had beon subsequently discharged. He and his friends had a consultation with Inspector Broham, who strongly advised that another cab should be sent for. The Stipendiary Magistrates, Messrs R. Beetham and H. W. Bishop Were noticed talking with the Polica Inspector, and a lino of constables ivas placed in a semicircle immediately opposite the hall, leaving most of the street perfectly clear. There were thirty-five police on foot aad four mounted men on the ground. Remarkably good order was maintained for about twenty minutes while the cab was being fetched.

When the vehicle drove up to tho hall Mr Worthington and two others got in, and when it moved a rush was made by the crowd, and there was some groaning and hooting. The police managed to hold back the crowd, many of the constables drawing their batons, while the cab and its occupants were further protected by the mounted troopers. The people continued, amid a scene of intense excitement, to press forward towards the cab, and forced the police back until they got within four or five yards of the vehicle, while a dense crowd, extending for two or three hundred yards, blocked all possible chance of the cab making headway. The yelling and groaning continued, and there appeared a strong probability that tbe police would be overpowered by the excited mob, the cab overturned, and the occupants seriously injured. There was also a great chance of casualties occurring to the crowd itself, which including women with children in their arms or in perambulators and a number of young girls. The cab up to this time had only managed to cover about a dozen yards in some five minutes, and at this stage it was stopped altogether. A consultation then took place between the Magistrates, after which Mr Beetham was seen to have mounted the box of the vehicle, from which elevation he proceeded to "read the Riot Act." After calling for silence, he delivered the following proclamation, as laid down in clause 87, part 6, of the Criminal Code Act, 1893, dealing with unlawful assemblies :— " Ouv Sovereign Lady the Queen charges and commanded, allpersons being assembled immediately to disperse and peaceably to depart to their habitations or to their lawful business under the pain of being guilty of an offence on conviction of which they may be sentenced to imprisonment with hard labour for life. God Save the Queen." There was some hooting while the proclamation Was being read. At its conclusion Mr Beetham gave instructions for the police to disperse the crowd, and the people giving way before the advance of the mounted troopers and a body of constables moved on to the footpaths, leaving the street perfeotly clear, as far as its intersection with High and Manchester streets. There, however, they presented a solid front, the crowd stretching back to Edwards, Bennett's. They remained, however, perfectly quiet, and the general impression appeared to be that the occupants of the cab had gone back into the Oddfellows' Hall. This, however, Was not the case, and it being seen that it was useless to try to get through the mass of people at the High street end of Licnfield street, the opportunity was taken to go round the other way. The cab was turned round, and, with two constables on the box, was driven round by way of Colombo street to Mr Worthington'shouseiuColomboßtreetNorth. A large number of people had already assembled there, but no demonstration waa made on the arrival of the cab. The crowd gradually swelled, but two troopers appeased ou the scene shortly afterwards, and with the two constables who had gone up in the cab remained in the vicinity until the crowd dispersed. The proceedings near Lichfield street after the street had been cleared were very quiet. Large numbers of people hung about talking over the occurrences of the evening, but they gradually yielded to the persuasions of the police and went their respective ways,. the affair ending much more quietly than was at one time looked for. Great praise is due to the conduct jf Mr Broham and his men, who exercised the greatest forbearance and coolness throughout.

Three arrests Were' made during the evening, and the individuals Wilt be brought up at the Police Court this morning, on a charge of provoking a breach of the peace.