BLUEJACKETS PUNISHED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 156, 30 June 1914, Page 5

BLUEJACKETS PUNISHED

EARLY MORNING FRACAS.

CASES IN POLICE COURT.

CIVILIANS WHO INTERFERED.

Haviso celebrated their arrival in port by an indulgence in liquid refreshment, four stokers from H.M.S. Philomel attracted a considerable amount of attention by their behaviour in Queen Street on Saturday morning. At 8 a.m. the four men, walking arm in arm, and singing. came into conflict with the police, and. in the ensuing nelee, all four were arrested, as well n.i two civilians who were members of the large crowd which quickly gathered on the »cene.

Of the four stokers. William Saunders was charged with assaulting Sergeant Matthews, with obstructing Constable ("lark, and wiih damaging a helmet to the extent of 12s 6d; Frederick Milan, with using obscene language, and with damaging a constable's mackintosh; William Frederick Brown, with bein„' disorderly while drunk, and with damaging a constable's mackintosh: and James Fernie, with being disorderly while drunk, and with obstructing the police whilst in the execution of their duty. The two civilians charged were Ernest Odiot Plielan and George Arthur I'erkir, both of whom were alleged to have obstructed the police.

Why the Police Interfered. Evidence was given by a large number of police officers to the effect that the four stokers were coming up Queen Street from the Waitemata Hotel in a very hilarious mood. After being twice warned about their conduct, the four sailors reached the corner of Shortland Street. There, Urown—who was drunk—fell down, and the others attempted to get him on to his feet again. Constable (lark came up to them and attempted to arrest the drunken man. The other three, who were also under the influence of liquor, said that they could get their drunken companion back to the ship, and tried to prevent the arrest being effected. The sailors made their way up Shoitland Street, where a big crowd assembled. More police arrived on the scene, and a general melee took place. A!' four stokers were eventually arrested and taken to the lock up, but not before Sergeant Matthews had been hit violently on the nose and two police capes had been torn. Saunders struggled on his way to the station, and, while being locked up. put his foot through a constable's helmet. During the fracas the two civilians, Phelan and Perkin, incited th.i sailors to resist arrest, and, obstructing the police, generally behaved in an excited manner. Both were therefore arrested.

Naval Authorities to Act. The four stokers were all convicted of the charges laid against them, with the exception of the charge of assault laid against Saunders. Mr. E. ('. Cutten, S.M., said that no doubt all four men were under the influence of liquor at the time. The fact that they endeavoured to get back to their ship by going up Shortland Street seemed to corroborate this. Very likely the police had a tough job, and hnd to use a certain amount of force to get the accused to the lock-up. The complaints made about the rough methods used by the police could probably be accounted for in this way. His Worship said that he would inflict no penalty upon the four bluejackets, each of whom "would be handed over to the naval authorities to be dealt with. An officer from the Philomel, together with four other sailors, then took charge of the four accused. George Arthur Perkin, a young labourer, pleaded guilty to obstructing the police. He said that he was running with tho crowd and bumped into the police without meaning to. Characterising the accused's action i-.s the result of stupidity rather than malice, His Worship said that he would impose a lighter penalty than usual in such cases. Tho accused was fined £2.

"An Excitable Young Man." The charge against Ernest Odiot Phelan, a voting school teacher, of having obstructed the police was beard by Mr. F. V. Frazer S.M., tbo accused being defended by Mr. J. R. Reed, K.C. Police evidence was given to the effect that I'helan. who was very excited, pushed I his way through the crowd and hindered the constables who were trying to arrest the sailors. Ho was waving a cheque nook about in ono hand and a pencil in the other, taking down every constable's number. The accused denied that he obstructed tho police. He said that he considered that thev acted in a brutal manner, and i that he therefore went to the police station ]to lav a complaint, At tho lock-up, however," he was treated roughly, and, after I being twice shoved down the steps, was arrested himself. He was then searched and suffered all sorts of indignities, being left in the cells until the evening without knowing for what he had been arrested. Ten pounds of the money found upon him was taken as bail, and he was liberated with sixpence in his pocket. Consequently, being a stranger in Auckland, ho had to borrow some money. These- allegations about the treatment of the accused at the hands of tho polico were denied bv Senior-Sergeant Rutledge, who said that Phelan, who was. very much excited, did not seem to know quite what ho was doing. He was treated exactly like anv other arrested man. His Worship said that what happened in tho police station had very little bearing on the case. The evidence on this ♦point was very contradictor)!, and, if there was anv complaint to be made, it could be lodged in the proper quarter. It was dear, continued His Worship, that the accused had acted in a bona-fido manner, actuated by humanitarian motives. Still, his action in interfering with the police was a verv unwise one, and ono which had led to somewhat serious consequences. Bv his conduct he had incited the other i.erused to resist arrest, and had made the task of the police very difficult. Although the accused had been the chief cause of the trouble, be had been innocent, in his intention, and, therefore in view of his fined character and position, the charce.' although proved, would be dismissed. The accused was ohviouslv mi editable young man, and had suffered for what he had done by his arrest and sojourn in the cells. Acting on counsel's suggestion, His Worship added that he would expect the accused i to donate the sum of £2 to the local hospital.