RIOTOUS SEAMEN

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 92, 12 January 1921, Page 4

RIOTOUS SEAMEN

SERIOUS AFFRAY AT LYTTELTON POLICE USE BATONS FREELY Bv Telesrranh—Press Association. Christchurch, January 11. A serious affray between the police and members of the crews of oversefts vessels took place at Lyttelton last evening. • Constables Baynes and Hislop arrested a seaman off the Maimoa, which arrived direct from New York on Saturday, for using obscene language. The man resisted, and his mates closed round the police’ and obstructed them. A crowd collected, consisting largely of seamen and firemen. The constables were mobbed, and very roughly handled, hut not only stuck to .their man, but. made another arrest. At the height of the disturbance, when the two constables were about exhausted, police reinforcements arrived. As the mob still maintained its attack, a constable slipped across to the police station, and returned with ft supply of batons. Thus armed, the police forced their way to the station, beating off several ugly rushes by the free use of their staves. At the station the door was rushed, and another arrest was iriiade. , . Stones were thrown, and so alarming was the attitude of the crowd that a threat to read the Riot Act was made. This apparently had an effect for the crowd broke up and gradually dispersed. Constables Hislop and Baynes, who so nluckily stuck to their prisoner, were badly knocked about-the latter especially. he having been brutally kicked while on the ground. A sequel to the disturbance wok place at the Magistrate’s Court to-day, when five firemen on the steamer M-aimoa were charged before Mr. S. E. M Carthy, S.i with various offences arising theretiom. Richard Jones was convicted and sentenced to one month’s imprisonment on a charge of using obscene language and wav convicted and discharged on n charge of'resisting arrest and was ordered to pay expenses. • George Henry Crowe was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment for obstructing a constable and convicted on a charge of"using obscene language. Jiames Hartley was fined £lO for using obscene language, ki default one moi ith s imprisonment; and Albert Beardsley and John Philbin were each fined £lO fol inciting lawlessness, in default one month’s imprisonment.