MOB FIGHTING THE POLICE

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 3308, 31 March 1926, Page 13

MOB FIGHTING THE POLICE

FRACAS IN A MELBOURNE SUBURB When constables from the Fitzroy Police Station, in Melbourne, attempted to arrest a man who is alleged to have assaulted and robbed Thomas O'Connor o£ a watch and gold chain, they were threatened by a hostile crowd numbering some 400 men and women. Several of the policemen were struck from behind, and the situation became so ugly that SeniorConstable Goodsou was obliged to communicate with Russell Street and ask for the assistance of the night patrol. Constables Wise, Duncan, Hatley and Riley were driven to the scene of the disturbance in one of the night patrol cars. The trouble started outside an hotel Vhen a man who is well-known to the police was seen to strike O’Connor in tho mouth. When the latter, placed his hands to his face in an instinctive act of self-preservation to ward off further blows, the man is alleged to have made a dive at O'Connor’s waistcoat and seized his watch arid gold chain. The victim of the alleged robbery cried out "Stop thief!" A spectator went to O’Connor’s assistance and attempted to wrench the watch and chain from the man’s hands. He was struck a blow on tho mouth, and reeled backwards. The man, however, dropped the 'watch and chain on the footpath. Hearing the noise of the scuffle, Constable Tratford ran to the scene, and attempted to place the man unser arrest. At once a large crowd gathered and surrounded the constable. He was in imminent danger of being maltreated, when Constables Pearson, McNulty and Lees drew their batons and sprang to his assistance. Senior Constable Goodson was then 7 apprised of the serious trouble which was brewing outside the hotel, and he -ost no time in joining his men. Progress Barred by Crowd By this time the crowd had swelled until there were fully 400 men and women in the street. Constable Tratford was wrestling with the suspect on the ground and trying to handcuff him, when the man’s brother is alleged to have sprung at him from behind and dealt him a cowardly blow .on the head. Tratford managed to get one of the handcuffs on the man's wrist, but owing to his violent struggles and the interference of the crowd he pould not complete the operation. Senior-Constable Goodson fastened his handcuffs on the wrist of the man who was already manacled, but the latter managed to free himself and dash into the crowd. The constables attempted to follow him, but their progress was barred by the infuriated crowd, whose sympathy, apparently, was with -the lawbreakers. Dragged into Hotel Despite the threatening attitude of ! thefiaoi} life little' band of constables

effected the arrest of th man who is alleged to have assaulted Constable Tratford. They dragged him into the hotel and held him while Senior-Con-stable Goodson telephoned police headquarters for reinforcements. Outside the mot demanded the release of the prisonerr, but nobody was indiscreet enough to aittempt to force Ws way into the hotel. Baulked in their object to release tho prisoner from the clutches of tho police, a number of hooligans vented •their spleen on the cab driver who had been waiting outside the hotel at the orders of the police to drive the prisoners to the watch-house. Stones *a.nd other missiles were thrown at the *oab driver. Ho was dragged from his seat, and tho horse and vehicle were driven along Brunswick Street. At the Fitaroy watch-house Arthur Monar, 43 years, driver, was charged with having assaulted Senior-Constable Goodson and Constable Tratford, and with offensive behaviour. Later the police arrested Alfred Tlonar, 31 years, driver, and chaged ♦am with assault and robbery, and with resisting the police