Brawl In Dunedin: Men Before Court

Press, Volume C, Issue 29502, 2 May 1961, Page 7

Brawl In Dunedin: Men Before Court

(New Zealand Press Association)

DUNEDIN, May 1. About 50 persons were engaged in a brawl at the corner of Dowling and Princes streets on Friday night, said Inspector J. H. Alty, when five crew members of the overseas ship s.s. Ceramic appeared in the Dunedin Magistrate’s Court today on a variety of charges relating to the disturbance.

AU the defendants pleaded guilty. John Alfred Marney, aged 21. an assistant steward, was sentenced to 12 days’ imprisonment on a charge of obstructing a constable. Leonard Norman Pattison, aged 26, a seaman deck hand, and George Arthur’ Newton, aged 24. an assistant steward, were each fined £lO on charges of behaving in a disorderly manner. John David Smith, aged 21, a male nurse, was sentenced to 12 days’ imprisonment on a charge of assaulting a police constable. Robert Connor, aged 20, a seaman deck hand, was sentenced to 12 days’ imprisonment on a charge of resisting a constable, and was fined £5 on a charge of using obscene language.

Inspector Alty said that the police saw- a large crowd of “undesirables” congregating at the Dowling street steps at 7.55 p.m.

It was obvious that there was going to be a disturbance. Fighting then broke out, involving about 50 people.

When the police moved in to break up the brawl, Smith struck Constable J. R. Harrison in the back, and then in the stomach. Pattison kicked the police dog, Arco. Connor struggled with Constable J. J. Orlowski. There was general fighting between the police and the ship’s crew.

Marney had attempted to pull Connor away after the police had apprehended him. Inspector Alty said. Questioned by Mr J. D. Willis, S.M.. as to what happened to Dunedin residents involved in the brawl, Inspector Alty said that they had had “the good sense” to move off before the police arrived.

The Magistrate ordered that all defendants be placed aboard the Ceramic 48 hours before it finally sails from Auckland.