THE CONSTABLE AND THE COMEDIAN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7695, 21 July 1886, Page 6

THE CONSTABLE AND THE COMEDIAN.

Mr. W. H. Wallace, comedian, at present playing at Her Majesty's Opera House, Melbourne, has (the Argus states) caused a summons to be issued against Constable Patterson for assault. Mr. Wallace complains of gross illtreatment at the hands Of the acoused. He says that after the olose of the performance at the Opera House on Saturday, July 3, he went with Mr. Allison to the Oriental Hotel, and remained there until early on Sunday morning, when he left for his home in Fitzroy. As was a custom with him, he was studying a part by repeating it to himself as he walked. He had got almost opposite St. Patrick's Cathedral, on his way home, when Constable Patterson, who was was going towards Little Collins-street, stopped him. The constable said, "What are you muttering about He replied that he was going home, and that Patterson had no right to stop him. Patterson, becomiug excited and gesticulating, said that it was his duty to stop anyone whom he heard mattering, and said, "Now, get along home." Mr. Wallace protested that Patterson was exceeding his duty, and was thereupon pushed into the gutter. He whistled for assistance, and Patterson took out his handcuffs, and threatened to place them on him. He complained of Patterson's conduct, and asked for his number, whereupon the constable threatened to strike him, with hi» handcuffs. Mr. Wallaoe expressed his determination to remain the constable until he procured his number, whereupon the constable took off his helmet, and apparently altered the position of the figures. The constable then walked about for an hour, avoiding all lamps and lighted places. Mr. Wallace followed the constable until at the head of Little Collins-street be jumped over a fenoe and got out of his sight. Mr. Wallace then went to the barracks in Russell-street, to lodge a complaint. He saw constable No. 2440, to whom he stated what had occurred. The constable asked him to wait for the parade in order to see if he could recognise his assailant. He agreed to do so, but constable No. 2419, on being told of the occurrence, would not allow him to see the parade, and told him to make a report of the case. He then asked to be allowed to write his statement, but no facilities were afforded him to do so. The constables whom he saw behaved very rudely towards him. He went home, but on Sunday night thought he would go again and look for his assailant. He found Patterson in the sentry-box at Parliament House, and, fearing that, if he recognised him, he would not give him an opportunity of getting his number, he asked in the Yorkshire dialect to be directed to the Yoriok Club. Patterson told him how to find it, when be recognised the constable's voice, and said, " Oh, you are the constable who assaulted me this morning." He had notioed the number by this time. He was going away, when Patterson followed and seized him, saying, "I must have your name and address." Mr. Wallace replied that he would discover them in good time. The constable then said, "I shall take you to the watch-house," and proceeded to do so. Some persons on whom Mr. Wallace had called to witnosa the treatment he was subjected to, foHowed them to the Little Bonrke-street watchhouse. The watchhouse keeper was most polite, and asked Mr. Wallace for his name and address, saying that he would not be imprisoned. He gave his address, and was going away, when Patterson tnrast him back into the middle of the office. He broke down entirely at this last indignity, and called Patterson "a scoundrel." Patterson then said "That's what I wanted," and allowed Mr. Wallace to depart. His case was represented to the superintendent of police, and it was upon the advice of that officer and the chief commissioner of police that Mr. Wallace has summoned Patterson.