ROWDYISM AT THE FIRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14142, 18 August 1909, Page 8

ROWDYISM AT THE FIRE.

ARTILLERYMAN ASSAULTED.

CASE BEFORE THE COURT.

An incident of the big fire at the Strand Arcade of Monday "night came before Mr. C. C. Kettle, S.M., at the Police Court yesterday, when George Edward Morris, a young man, pleaded not guilty to assaulting Charles Renner, a member of the New Zealand defence forces, and of assaulting Constable McGrath in the execution of his duty. Sub-Inspector Hendrey stated that the assault had been of but a minor character, but it was serious under the circumstances. At the firo on Monday night, the police, ably assisted by the volunteers, were doing their best to keep the crowd away from where the firemen were working. The accused was in the midst of a bunch of hoodlums, behaving in a blackguardly manner, shouting, pushing, etc. The volunteer, as well as a sergeant-major and a police officer, had been assaulted by the accused.

Charles Renner, a member of No. 2 Garrison Artillery, said ho was present at the fire. His instructions were to let no one pass. There were a lot of men behind him kicking up a row. Accused suddenly broke through the crowd, and came at witness with his head down. Witness tried to stop him, and was rewarded with a bump on the shoulder. Witness' sergeantmajor came to his assistance, and then came a constable, who arrested the man.

Charles McGrath, police officer, said accused was the centro of a most disorderly section of the crowd. Accused hit Renner on the shoulder. If Renner had been hit on the head the results might have been serious. Sergeant-Major Clarke then tried to stop* him, and was struck in the stomach by accused with his head. Then witness, after a struggle with the man, in which accused struck him, effected his arrest. At the time of the assault there was some silver plate stored in the street. Sergeant-Major Clarke stated that when the accused rushed past Renner he (witness) grabbed him. They both fell, and then the constable arrested the man.

AccUvSed said he worked at fruit hawking, labouring, or anything he could get hold of. He went up to see the fire, and found that the volunteers, had formed a cordon acrose the path. He was with no gang, being only with one companion, a man named Primrose. The crowd was pushing, and he was shoved through. A volunteer caught hold of him by the neck and he fell down. When he got up he ■was arrested. He remembered going down with his head, but the act was quite unintentional. He might have struck Banner and the constable, but he did not remember having done it, and if he had he had done it unintentionally. He did not know McGrath was a police officer. He had been convicted once in Greymouth when he was 16 years of age. He had not been convicted in the Dominion last year. In fact, he was not in the country at that time.

George Primrose eaid he had met accused down the street on Monday night. Accused got pushed out of the crowd by the pressure at the back, and witness did not see him any more. He had not heard accused use violent language or shout out. The crowd was noisy all over. Accused wag quite quiet, and not misbehaving himself in any way. The striking of Renner could not have been caused by the crowd. Such was the density of the throng that a man could have been pushed through a brick wall. There were all sorts of people around accused. Witness did not notice any companions of accused around him.

Charles Banner (recalled) was of opinion that accused had deliberately rushed through and assaulted him. There was a clear space between accused and witness. Witness saw accused rush at him, and then witness was struck by the man. No one else had tried to break through like accused. Witness did not see what occurred • between Constable McGrath and accused afterwards.

Constable McGrath (recalled) said there had been absolutely no pushing by the crowd. He saw the accused make a rush and strike Renner. Accused then fell down with the sergeant-major, and started to pommel the non:-com.

The magistrate said he was satisfied that accused had deliberately broken through and committed the assaults, for what purpose he alone knew. Accused would be convicted, but sentence would be deferred till Saturday, to allow of the probation officer making a report.