SEQUEL TO AFFRAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20840, 6 April 1931, Page 12

SEQUEL TO AFFRAY.

FIVE YOUNG MEN CHARGED. POLICE CONSTABLE OBSTRUCTED SENTENCES OF IMPRISONMENT. Five young men who were concerned in an affray will) 1 lie police in Little Queen Street on Thursday evening were sentenced to Urms of imprisonment when they appoared in the Police Court on Saturday, before Mr. E. 0. Cutten, S.M. Sydney John Ball, aged 28, labourer, admitted charges of being disorderly while drunk, of resisting the police and of wilfully damaging a taxi-cab. Pleas of not guilty to charges of obstructing the police were entered by the following:— Alexander Stewart Macmillan, aged 21, seaman; Ernest Walter Briggs, aged 23, labourer; Richard Llewellyn Lucas, aged 21, labourer; and Joseph Shannon, aged 23, labourer.

" The nieii are unemployed relief workers and have taken part in unemployed processions," said Detective-Ser-geant Kelly. The accused wcro under tho influence of liquor and created a disturbance in Little Queen Street. Receiving a complaint of their behaviour, Constable Gillespie endeavoured to move them. Accused started to sing " The Red Flag," and Ball, who was the ringleader, adopted a fighting attitude. The constable went to arrest Ball and they both fell to the ground. The others interfered and struck tho constable. Later Sergeant Miller and another constable arrived and tho men were arrested. Constable Gillespie would have boon badly knocked about but for the timely arrival of assistance, said Mr. Kelly. Ball, with five other men, was ejected from the men's night shelter soino weeks ago for inciting a riot. Constable Gillespie said that when he first saw tho men thoy were standing together with their coats off and were all arguing. When ho fell to the ground with Ball the others tried to pull him off by grasping his legs and clothing. You nil had sufficient liquor to make you lose your sense," said the magistrate, addressing accused. " You are guilty of a very serious offence and this was most marked in tho case of Ball." Ball was sentenced to 14 days' imprisonment and ordered to pay 10s costs. The other accused were each sentenced to three days' imprisonment.