WEDDING PARTY FRACAS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20987, 25 September 1931, Page 15

WEDDING PARTY FRACAS.

INVASION BY HOOLIGANS

BRIDEGROOM'S EYES BLACKENED

A wedding party at Surry Hills, Sydney, was rudely disturbed at three o'clock on a recent morning, when two hooligans entered the bouse in which the festivities were being held, and, after being refused drink, it. is alleged severely handled several guests, the tenant, and the bride and bridegroom. The wedding celebrations were proceeding merrily when, it is alleged, the two iuTerlopers arrived. They walked boldly into the room and accosted one of the guests. "We want some drink," they said. They were brusquely ordered to leave, lhey peremptorily refused, and became abusive. Seizing a chair, one of the men hurled it at one of the merry-makers. This was the signal for a general melee. Tables, chairs, crockery, and other fbrnishings were thrown indiscriminately around the room. The men attacked everyone with whom they could come to grips. Broken furniture iittered the apartment. One of the men, the police stated, brandished a broken chair, and struck an elderly man, Mr. Alfred Farrell, a-merciless blow on the head, inflicting a severe wound, and also injuring his shoulders and arms. Three other meri in the house were injured. The bridegroom was battered about the face, and both his eyes were blackened. The bride, too, received a severe handling. Realising that the rioise of the fray would eventually bring the police, the assailants hurriedly left the house, but they bore unmistakable signs of the encounter. {feeding profusely from a wound in bis head, Mr. Farrell was taken to the hospital. where seven stitches weee inserted. He was later able to go home. Two detectives later visited the house. The room in which the battle had taken place, thev said, resembled a shambles. The walls "were spattered with blood and the furniture was wrecked. Latei a man was arrested, and charged with assault j and inflicting grievous bodily harm.