BOTTLES AND “BOOT”

Gisborne Times, Volume LIII, Issue 5536, 19 July 1920, Page 5

BOTTLES AND “BOOT”

POLICE ROUGHLY HANDLED IN / MAIN STREET.

DISGRACEFUL MELEE ON SATURDAY NIGHT.

Early on Saturday night Gladstone, fioad was the scene of a disturbance of a particularly unpleasant character. At about 6.15 p.m. Constables Gribben and Campbell were passing along the street on their tour of duty when their attention was attracted by the unruly behaviour of some men in the right-of-way alongside the Albion Hotel. The two constables proceeded to investigate tho matter and found a man named Peter Knudson struggling with another. Immediately the police appeared, Knudson, whom it is alleged was under the influence of liquor, challenged Constable Gribben to fight, at the same time, <t is alleged, calling him an objectionable name.

By this time a. large crowd had gathered and the two constables endeavored to persuade the men to go quietly away, but their efforts in this direction were of no avail. One of Ivnudson’s mates then came forward and said, hg would take Knudson home. On this assurance tho police proceeded on their way, but on coming back past the spot a few minutes later Knudson rushed out from the crowd and again challenged Constable Gribben to fight. Constables Campbell and Gribben then proceeded to arrest him. At this stage someone threw a bottle which struck Constable Campbell on the back of the head, the bottle breaking and fragments of it striking Constable Gribben, who at the same time received several kicks from members of the crowd. After a strenuous tussle, during which Constable Gribben had several pieces bitten out of his hand, the police succeeded in handcuffing Knudson and taking him to the lock-up. Before getting him awav, however, several other men amongst the crowd incited the prisoner to resist and endeavored to influence others to obstruct the police in the execution of their duty. Sub-Inspector Cassells was communicated with and drove along to the scene, of the disturbance in a motor car. By this time the mob had quietened down. As a result of inquiries made by the Sub-Inspector it is probable that in addition to Ivnudsoh, several others will be proceeded against in connection with the affair, which occupied half an hour and attracted an enormous crowd. An eye-witness to the incident characterises ~ the episode as disgraceful, amounting hi reality to a riot. Not only were: the police hampered in carrying out their duty but during the struggle both were knocked down and whilst in that position were treated to a. liberal application of "the boot." It is also alleged that during the melee several other missiles were hurled at the police. Our informant also states that, unenviable though their experience was, matters might have been much more serious for the two constables but for the timely arrival of Detective McLeod and Constable Morris and for the aid of ex-Constable Butterworth and a Maori named Rapa, both of whom, came to the aid of the police when menaced by the mob. Knudson will appear before the Court this morning on charges of drunkenness, committing a breach of the peace, and obscene language.