Melee With Police

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 61, 14 March 1938, Page 8

Melee With Police

SEAMEN IN COURT IN HANDCUFFS Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, March 12. A melee in which several members of the crew of the Talnui attempted to rescue three men from police custody occurred at Lyttelton yesterday afternoon, as a result of which three of the crew appeared in Court on various charges to-day, the men appearing handcuffed and later being removed under strong police guard still handcuffed. The trouble started with a disturbance on a train from Christchurch, as a result of which the guard telephoned the Lyttelton police to meet the train on arrival. The men were travelling on second-class tickets in a first-class carriage, and when the guard remonstrated he was struck on the side of the neck and told that he would be killed if he reported the matter. When the train arrived the guard pointed out George Henry Whiting. The police endeavoured to arrest him and he had to be thrown and handcuffed. The police met a crowd of m«n on the street and a further struggle ensued until police reinforcements arrived and secured the two other men. In the Court Whiting was convicted and discharged on a charge of assault, fined £1 for disorderly conduct, fined £5 each on charges of obstructing the police and obscene language. William Flanagan, a fireman, was fined £1 for disorderly behaviour, £5 for resisting the police and £5 for obscene language. For disorderly behaviour and obstructing the police Walter Minard, ship’s cook, was fined £2.