FIGHT AFTER WEDDING.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XIX, Issue 2053, 9 December 1924, Page 6

FIGHT AFTER WEDDING.

WILD BATTLE WITH POLICE

CONSTABLES DBAW BATONS

Extraordinary scenes attending the celebration of a wedding at Liverpool were described at an inquest held last month on the death of John Gaffney, the bride’s father, who was arrested following an affray with the police. It was stated that pictures and furniture were hurled out- of the house on to the street! on to the heads of tho constables. The mother of the bn do wrenched off -the bedroom window and threw that aiti the policemen. Several guests ran out and attacked the police with pokers, while the brido’s father, using a steel fire sitool, injured several policemen befbre lie was arrested. The 'trouble, according to the police, began, when they .arrested one of the guests for being d tank and riotous m the street. The other guests immediately rushed out of the house to tiho rescue. The policeman was kicked arid fell. While he was on the ground he blew liis whistle and other constables rushed quickly to (the scene. They woie confronted by a hostile crowd of about 300 people. . “Wo had to draw our batons and strike out,” said one police officer, 1 or we aboiiild have been killed.” Gaffney, who was a dock labourer, aged 51, received a baton blow on the head during the struggle. He died of septicaemia in the prisonu hospita while undergoing a term of imprisonment. The jury found that fiShe wound on the head had no connection with his death. They exonerated the police from all bilame, stating that “the police acted properly in view of the extraordinary circumstances.” The Coroner: I entirely agree.