POLICE BRUTALITY

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 54, 27 November 1930, Page 11

POLICE BRUTALITY

Echo of May Bay Riots SERGEANT IMPRISONED (Rec. November 26, 5.5 p.m.) Berlin, November 25. In connection with the May Day riots last year, when 40 civilians, including the New Zealand journalist, Mr. 0, E, Mackay, were killed by the police, two police officers and a sergeant were charged with gross 111-treatment. The sergeant was sentenced to four months’ imprisonment and the officers were acquitted. Evidence was given that the police completely lost their heads and brutally truncheoned citizens, while the officers looked passively on. Serious rioting occurred in the streets of Berlin on May Day. 1029. Communists being responsible for disturbances* that cast the city into a panic. Barricades were thrown up in the streets, and after several brisk skirmishes had taken place, the police opened fire and put the rioters to flight. Later, orders were issued that the streets were to be cleared, and inhabitants were warned that the police would fire on any persons in sight. In a number of cases this warning was disregarded, and several innocent pedestrians were shot. Later it was asserted that such drastic action on the part of the police was quite unnecessary. Among those who ventured abroad in the evening, only to meet death, was Mr. Charles E. Mackay, late of Wanganui, a member of the staff of the London “Daily Express.” He was that paper’s assistant correspondent in Berlin.