POLICE ASSAULTED.

New Zealand Herald, 29 June 1914, Page 8

POLICE ASSAULTED.

SHORTLANO STREET MELEE,

BLUEJACKETS ARRESTED.

TWO CIVILIANS INVOLVED.

A LIVELY conflict between the police and four bluejackets from the cruiser Philomel occurred in STiortland Street about eight o'clock on Saturday morning before a largo crowd of spectators, several of whom displayed pronounced hostility to the police and encouraged the blue jackets in their resistance.

Tho trouble started when Constable D. OJarko found it necessary to caution the bluejackets about their behaviour. No notice was tasen of the warning. On the contrary, it is alleged, one of the bluejackets approached the constable in a threatening manner. Then the constable was struck from behind, and ho immediately proceeded to arrest the bluejacket who appeared to bo the most unruly. Tho arrest of their comrade was ream:toil by tho other nioii-o'-varsmen, who began to obstruct the constable. Sergeant Matthews and Constable A. J. Smith then arrived on the scone, and each of them arrested a bluejacket.

I!v this time a crowd had gathered, and a section of it loudly urged the }Juojackots to resist the police. Then (lift bluejacket who was free came forward and struck the sergeant a violent blow on tho nose, causing Hood to flow freely. For a while the proceedings continued to be very animated, but more police arrived, and all the bluejacKets and two civilians were arrested and takop to the police station.

The four bluejackets arrested are cmployed as stokers on 11.M.5. Philomel, and they will appear before tho Police Court to-dav on various charges- William Frederick Brown is to be charged with being disorderly while drunk and with damaging a constable's mackintosh; William Saunders will I>q called upon to answer to charcos of assaulting Sergeant Matthews while in the execution of his duty, and Viilh obstructing Constable Clark and damaging the liter's telnet; Frederick Milan will be charged ' with using obscene language and with damaging a constables mackintosh; and James Ferine with being disorderly while drunk and with obstructing the police. The civilians arrested in connection with the occurrence were Ernest Qdiot Phelan, a school-teacher, and Arthur Perkin, a labourer. Both were feleasefl on "bail some time after their arrest. They are both to be charged with obstructing the police.