THE DARKER SIDE OF STRIKE WAR

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3187, 11 September 1917, Page 6

THE DARKER SIDE OF STRIKE WAR

VIOLENCE AND SABOTAGE ONE MAN SHOT DEAD Sydney, August 3W' A number of men alleged to be carters out on strike attacked two -.olunteer carters in Bridge lload, Camperdown, near tho Children's Hospital, yesterday afternoon, and iir the struggle tliat ensued two of the strikers were shot, one b\>ing fatally injured. Reginald James Wearne, a stock and station agent, of Bingnra, and Charlos Thorpe, both volunteer workers, were returning from Birt's wharf with their wagons,' having each discharged a load of jam for the troops at the front. At. 4.45 p.m., as they wero going along Bridge Road, just abreast of the Children's Hospital, o number of men who were congregated on the footpath commenced to call out insulting remarks, one of them saying, "You scabs and ." The volunteer cartel's, however, took no notice of the epithets, and ono of tho men then ran alongside of tho foremostvjorry, driven by Wearne, and said, "You , I'll get you," and then jumped on the lorry from.behind whilst it was in motion. Wearne, who was sitting on the box driving tho horses, attempted to handover the reins to a littlo boy who was with him. and to protect himself, but he was not quick enough, and the man hit him' on the head, knocking him off his 6eat. The assailant then jumped on him, almost dazing him, and Ihon left the lorry. •'

Whilst this was going on Thorpe, who was driving in the rear, was attacked from behind by another man and knocked off the lorry. As ho fell his foot caught in tho reins, and ho was dragged along by the trotting horses for some distance, and then eeized by the motj of men and taken to a vacant allotment. Here he was being violently attacked wlion Weavne looked round and saw him. Wcarne stopped his horses, and, drawing a revolver, rushed to his friend's assistance, calling out to tho attackers as ho, approached, "Keep back, or I'll fire." One of the men then picked up a stone and rushed at him, at tho same time throwing the missile. Wearne thereupon fired into the ground. At this the man stopped, but almost immediately ran away, picked up another stone, and rushed at Wearne again. Wearne then fired at his legs, the bullet entering the calf of tho left leg. Another man meanwhile crept upon Wearne from behind, and hit him on the head with a stone, cutting Wearno's head open, and knocking him to the ground, the assailant falling on top. The Fatal Shot. Woarne, although dazed and suffering from loss of blood, made a fierce struggle, and threw tho man off him, but just as he.was trying.to got up another man attaoked, and then Wearne fired his re-

volver again. The bullet struck the man, who staggered,, aud then dropped to the roadway, shot through the heart. At tho hospital the man with tho wound in the chest was found to be dead, and his body was removed to tho morgue. His brother then gave deceased's name as Mervyn Ambrose Flanagan, 32, a carter, residing at 4 Marsden Street, Cumpcrdown. Deceased was married, and had four children.

Tho mair'who received a wound in tho leg was admitted into tho hospital. He gave his name as Harry Williams, aged 52, residing in .Gowrio 'Street, Newtown. At the hospital Constable Andrews was present, and AVearne, after, having the wound in his head attended to, gave himself up to the custody of the constable, and at tho 6anie time also gavo the deceased man's brother, James Everard Flanagan, aged 30, into custody. Subsequently Reginald James Wearne was charged at the Newtown Police Station with feloniously slaying Mervyn Ambrose Flanagan. Bail was allowed, self in J2IOO, and a surety for a 6imilar amount, while James Everard Flanagan was charged with using violence to prevent Wearne from following his lawful occupation. Bail was allowed, self in X4O, and one surety for the same amount. AVearne is a brother of Mr. AV. E. AVearne, M.L.A. for 1 Namoi, who directly lie learned of the occurrence proceeded to the Newtown Police Station, and arranged for tho release on bail of his brother, for whom ho 'acted as bondsman. Government's Regrets. "I can only express profound regret," said Mr. Fuller last night, "for the un- , fortunate incident whicli has led to loss ! of life. Every'effort has been made by tho Government to prevent the volunteer workers carrying firearms, bait in spito of this it seems clear that some of the men are armed, against the Government's wishes. Still, we must face the facts as they are. AVo have been carefully collecting information n9 to tho tactics pursued by somo of the strikers and their supporters. , A system of bitter persecution has been, instituted. Tho wives of loyal volunteers, particularly in the railway and tramway service, have been subjected to constant insult and attack. I have had many pathetic interviews with men who from a aenso of duty only have stuck 1 to the Government in this matter, and their main trouble has been the insults to whicli their wives and children have been subjected. In some cases, in fact, I have had to take. 6trong measures to 'prevent reprisals. Some cases of brutal assault have been brought under my notice in which the assailants have been able to escape detection. ' ■ \ "There' is no doubt that one fireman : on tho railways was seriously wounded by shots 'deliberately fired at a passing train. An attempt, has already beonmade to blow up a jetty at Catherine Hill Bay; explosives have been placed on. tram lines, nnd obstacles deliberately placed on railway lines. At Broken Hill a man who was merely discharging his duty was dragged by a/inob from his work, seriously maltreated, and. subjected to the most degrading ignominy at the hands of a rriob. In addition to this, loyalists have been in the courso of their occupation subjected to perpetual insults of a most irritating nature. Conduct'of this kind is bound to lead'to serious trouble. , Without in' any way prejudicing the unfortunate incident which happened yesterday, my information is that the driver of the wagon was brutally assaulted; and received injuries which necessitated treatment at- a hospital. Whether the use of firearms under tho circumstances was legitimate self-defence is purely a matter which will be decided by the Court. I had hoped," added Mr. Fuller, "that this disastrous liold up of the State would have concluded, without unfortunate incidents of this nature. The Government will still use every endeavour to prevent the use of force or firearms by either strikers or their supporters, or by the volunteer loyalists, who are carrying on (lie necessary services of the community."

WEARNE BEFORE THE COURT

, '• . Sydney, September 1. Wearnc was charged at Newtown Court yesterday with having, on August 30, feloniously slain. Jfervyn Ambrose Flanagan. Accused came into Court with his head swathed in bandages. He was very pale. ■ \ Sergeant Leonard, in applying for a remand for one week, informed the Magistrate of tho occurrences which led up to tho shooting, and explained that one of the principal witnesses was in the Hospital. The remand for one week was granted, bail being fixed at self in .£IOO. and a surety of a like amount. James Edward Flanusran (30) pleaded not guilty to the same Court to a charge that, at Camperdown,on August 30, ho used v violence, with intent to prevent Reginald .Tames Wearne from working at nis lawful occupation.

On the application of ..Sergeant Leonard, a remand for one we'ek was granted. Bail was fixed at self in .£BO, and a 'surety for a similar- amount. A very large crowd assembled .in tlio vicinity of the Courthouse, and. all the available space in the Court room was eagerlv rushed lis soon as the doors 'were opened.

ASSAULTED BY PICKETS

FIGHT AT MOORE PAKE. Sydney, August 2S. A number of men alleged to bo strikers' pickets accosted nfTliam Treece. a volunteer labourer from Dubbo, living.at the Cricket Ground, at about 5.30 p.m. yesterday, and attempted to prevent him from going into the camp. The story told to the police was that Treece was walking along Cleveland Street, near the old Zoo. when two men standing in the road stopped him, ami asked him where ho was bound to. Treece told them that he was returning to tlie camp .at the Cricket Ground, whereupon the two men. said: "You'ro a scab." Treece replied that he had two brothers at tha front, one of whom had just been killed, and he was also trying to do his "bit." One of the men then made a hit at Treece, who promptly retaliated.' and knocked him down. The other man then attempted to strike Treece. aniT was treated similarly. There wore five men sitting near by, and.when they saw tha tight they also rushed -f>. Treece put up « game battle, and in striking one of his attackers broke a bone in his wrist. Treece kept on fighting, when suddenly the seven men ran away*- A minute or so later two mounted police arrived, but the assailants' escaped, it is believed in a cab.

ENGINE FIREMAN SHOT

JBIOOO EEWAED. Sydney, August 27. Tho sensational shooting of a railway fireman on. the, Ulawarra railway line lato on Saturday night has caused a good deal 01, uneasiness throughout tho district. Detectives and police have been busily engaged oil'Sunday'and today investigating the matter, and up till to-night nothing has been found to sheet tho crime home to the guilty parties. Tho locomotive was inspected this morning at Coledalo on its arrival from Nowra by detectives and police, and a mark resembling where a buiM had struck was found in the cab on the opposite side to where the fireman Was shot. Tho supposition of the police on this evidence is that shots were fired from both sides of "Tho embankment, with tho object of disabling both the driver and the fireman. Tho ongino wiirbo examined by an export on arrival in Sydney. Precautions are to bo taken to guard the line from Clifton and Coledalo. The drivers and firemen on night trains are to be warned to keep the firebox closed when passing lonely spots on this section of tho line. Inquiries this ovening showed that the wounded fireman, Alfred Green, was doing well and recovering from the effects of the wounds, which were not nowconsidered, dangerous. At tho time of shooting tho train was travelling at a fast rate, and was ncaring Coledalo. The driver, H. Harding, heard what he believed to be two reports of a firearm, and at tho same moment Green complained of being struck by something in the chest:. Ho was subsequently removed to the local hospital, and Dr. I'eafherstonc found that ho was suffering from a bullet wound, which had penetrated through the flesh of the upper left forearm, near the shoulder, re-enter-ed 'the loft breast,, and- mado its exit near the centre of thobroast-lxmo, making altogether four wounds.. The Government offered JMOOO reward for information leading to the conviction of tho perron or persons who fired the shot 6. |

TWO MEN ARKESTED. ■ Sydney, September 5. In connection with the recent shooting of li'ireinan Alfred Vivian Green, tiro men were arrested, at Scarborough at about 2 o'clock this morning. Their names are James M/Enaney (36) and .Frederick Louden (27). The accused were brought before the Scarborough Court this afternoon, and formally charged with shooting with intent to murder. Mr. A. A. Lyßaght (of Wollongong) appeared , for the accused, who were remanded to Sydney. t

TRAIN FIRED AT

Sydney, Angust 31. Last night as the mail train was within a mile of Carcoar, about 9.30, a pea-rifle bullet struck the inside of the ;nginecab, and both the fireman and thojdriver narrowly escaped injuries. This rooming the police examined the locality for traces, and afterwards a blacktracker from Orange was taken out. So far no traces have been picked up, as heavy Tain last night made the search a difficult one.

EXPLOSION UNDER BRIDGE

Sydney, August 29. An attempt was made early this morning to destroy the trestle bridge oyer which the railway private coal line from the Wallarah Colliery to the jetty passes. Two charges of explosives were placed into position in the piles about two feet above- the sand of the beach, and tho explosion all but severed the piles ;,in one case the baso of tho pile was smashed into splinters. The moon had just set half an hour, >tlie morning being 'misty and dark, when the residents and tbe police of the little seaside township were awakened by a dull roar. At first the impression was that there had been an explosion on tiie collier Walrara'h lying at the jetty, and the constable on patrol had just crossed over the bridge and was returning when the -charge exploded. Evidently the perpetrators of this crime had waited-until it became dark quietly and quickly to bore the boles and place the charges into position. They got away very quickly over the sands and into the bushes, and by the time tho policeman descended to tho scene there was no .sign- of the delinquents -xcept their footprints along the beach. Work has, already been commencod to replace the piles. A colliery engine and tiring of wagons ran off tho lino near the beach and opposite the post offico on Monday, and a gang of free labourers on -volunteers are at -work getting it on the rails again. In tho meantime, three colliora are waiting in the bay. until traffic is restored sufficiently to resume coal loading. There are now over 250 miners ready to go into the colliery, and a camp is being established, near tho mine.

DETONATOR, ON TRAtt LINE

Sydney, August 29. A. detonator was placed on the tramline in Spit Road, Mosman, and at 7.15 p.m. was exploded by u passing tram. 'A. small dent was made in the tramline, but otherwise no damage was done. . The female passengers were alarmed by explosion.

ATTEMPT TO WRECK A TRAIN

Newcastle, September 2. Pieces of motal and bolts jammed in at the rail joints and stones on the railway line were discovered by the driver of a train of empty coal wagons near Aberinain on Saturdny. He was able to stop his engine and remove the obstruction without mishap. . About three days ago a piece of iron was found in the vail joints on tho main northern line, near Oocklo Creek station, but the police report was that the iron might have been accidentally dropped there.

BOULDER ON THE RAILWAY

Sydney, September 1. A stone weighing about 601b. was found on the railway line near Rosedalo colliery last evening, juet ""before a goods train, passed.

A GANGER ASSAULTED

Sydney, September.!. Jasper Teer, who had been in gaol only u 'few hours previously for travelling on the Tailway without a ticket, recently attacked Ganger A. E. Bye, who was patrolling a section of the railway line near Went-vortli Falls. Teer called Bve a "scab." and used other ffensive epithets. After a violent struggle, in which Bye had his thumb bitten i-nd his throat strained, Teer was overprwred with assistance, taken to "Kabombn, and charged with assault. Teer was fined £2 or a month for assault, M or two months for offensive language, and ii 2 or a month for trespassing. The fines were not paid.

AT BROKEN HILL

RAID ON THE MINES Broken Hill, August 31. At the Police Court here certain men who wero arrested during yesterday afternoon and night were charged that in company, between August 20 and August 23, 1917, at Broken Hill, they together with divers other evil disposed persons, to the number of 400 or more, did unlawfully, riotously assemble, . and, with threate of violence, compel the officers in charge of-certain' mines to cease operating tho engines and machinery used for the purpose of draining and lighting tho mines, to the great damage awl injury' of the mines; also that they wilinlly and maliciously broke and injured cortain machinery, in the said mines, and assaulted James Shevill, who was employed on one of the mines, preventing him by violence and threats from carrying on his lawful occupation and unlawfully imprisoning him for a long time. Mr. J. R. Edwards, who appeared for the police, when Sawtell, O'Grady, Robinson, and Stacoy were charged, said the A.M.A. -declared a strike on Sunday week last, and all tho men came out on-Wed-nesday, August 21. After an arrangement," a mob of 500 or more went to the North Mine, and pulled out, and made officials pull out, the fires in the boiler at the mine, and then made the pumps, in the mine cease. As a consequence, tho mine is now flooded, and the also gave out, and left the property at tho mercy of evildoers. They capsized the coal out of the bins. After they left this mine they went to the Junction, North Junction, and British mines. On the following day they went to tho Proprietary mine. The police tried to stop tho crowd, but were powerless. The men threatened the mine officials with violence, and threw stones at one of the leading officials. One of the-staff was soized by the crowd, and beat, cut, and knocked 1 about. He was dragged down from the mine to Argent Street The mob was howling behind him.. He put up a »reat fight, but tho strain was too much for him, and he fainted. The men threw coal at the meter gauge on tho mine, and tried to break it that way. Later one of the crowd seized a hammer, and smashed the machine with it. The machine is now useless. In consequence of the crowd going to the mine tho company is unable to pump water. There is a fire burning underground, and it requires attention. None of the officials intended to work; all they wanted to do was to go underground, and seo that everything was safe. Mr. R. Giles Shaw, S.M.: That discloses a serious ..state of affairs. The men were remanded till September 0.

HOLD UP ON QUEENSLAND BORDER

I INTERSTATE TRAFFIC BLOCKED. | , ■ Brisbane, September i. Troublo 'occurred on the Queensland border station, Wallaiigan-a. The Queensland Railway Union members, acting in sympathy with' tho southern strikers, decided not lo handle any goods from New South Wales except passengers' hand luggage- and mails, passengers! of course, still being allowed to travel/This declaration of the "l>lack" principle has moant an entire suspence of inter-State trading, and a consequent dislocation of railway traffic. The position was becoming extremely acute,'and it appeared as though the railway men were in no mood to alter their decision,' for the secretary of the union (Mr. Moroney) aid .-hat the men last week wore as ftrong as ever in their attitude. That his is at tho case, however, transpired when it was found that inter-State traffic had been resumed. There was further talk of "permits" on the part, of cortain fli-.

cials a the Trades Hall, but even thsrt gentlemen were outside the pale, for the decision of the men had come.about a* the result of action by the Government. It was learnt on excellent authority that the men received what was practically (an ultimatum—not exactly the anio as was handed to the men in the northern trouble—hut sufficiently imperative to induce them to drop 'heir unjustifiable attitude and allow inter-State traffic to be resumed. They 'were, in fact, informed that they must cany put -.he work, and that the Commissioner's regulations must be adhered to.