"MOVE ON!"

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14407, 15 July 1912, Page 7

"MOVE ON!"

DISTURBANCE IN THE CITY

It is part of tho duty cf thc-police officers of tho city to keep pedestrian traffic on the" footpr/Jis and streets on tho move. Tho officers keep their eyes on gossiping groups, and if theso groups aro in the fairway of traffic tho [ word is given to "movo on!" This is usually sufficient, as the ordinary member of the British public has a wholesome respect for the law. Thero are occasions, however, when,tho admonitory direction is resented, and then the gossipcrs como into conflict with tho representatives of law and order.

On Saturday night a sergeant of police, whoso physical proportions aro tho admiration of his comrades, sighted, a concourse on tho footpath near the Excelsior Hotel. Ho thought that this assembly should be moved on, and ho bore down on it. In a voice not low and sweet ho issued his ukase, or ultimatum, which was to "move on 1" The concourse was not in an amiablo or even respectful franrn of mind, and individually and collectively it resented being ordered to move on. But the physique of tho officer inspired a wholesome dread of coming within more than speaking distance, so tho group went off the footpath. Then it stopped and mado remarks which, wero of a distinctly unfriendly nnd personal nature. With marvellous speed thc city awoke to tho fact that thero was something doing, and in less timo than it takes to tell, there y.'as a crowd of two or three hundred men round tho officer. The fusilado of abusive remarks was continued, and tho officer endeavoured to withdraw from hi 3 nnr comfortable circlo of unwilling acquaintances. Tho crowd, however, was of a different mind. It followed him up, and kept up a funning fire of hot comment, but always- kept beyond reach. Iv Lower High street the sergeant was joined by several other officers, who had been attracted to tho. scene, by tho disturbance. It was noted that tho noisiest offenders kept well out- of range, but eventually an arrest was mado. Tho police escorted their man up High street and along Cashel street, and hero tho crowd, seeing that it's entertainment was over, quickly dissolved. It was a very lively interlude, and it was fortunate that tho temper of the crowd was not particularly ugly.