INCIDENTS OF NIGHT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21159, 16 April 1932, Page 10

INCIDENTS OF NIGHT.

POLICE lIUN'r FOR EOOTEKS. \ CHASES IN CITY STREETS. MANY EXCITING EPISODES. TASK CONTINUES TILL DAYLIGHT. Throughout Thursday night, from the time when Queen Street Gradually cleared until daylight, parties of police and special constables scoured the city and Newton areas on the watch for rioters returning to their homes. There were many exciting incidents as police parties canie upon odd groups and individuals who generally scuttled away into dark streets. Police constables and detectives passed a sleepless night. Much remained to be done after the rioting and looting was over and police officials were determined that every arrcs.f possible should be made. Sub-Inspector Gibson, in charge of the detective force, was on duty all night and he personally directed the operations. Offers of assistance were received in large numbers. Several men were found willing to assist the police in "cleaning up" the city overnight. Parties consisting of a "regular" and two "specials" were formed and sent out to different points. The police did not sign on any and every one who offered and care was taken that no undesirables were included. One nan who constituted himself a special guard for a block of shops was later found looting and he was immediately arrested. An Ugly Incident. While the police constables <md specials were patrolling the city, detectives, many or' whom had been hastily called from their homes, were sent out on roving commissions to arrest men known to be leaders in the unemployed movement. Two men were arrested, but the man regarded as the ringleader could not be traced.

A detective-sergeant and a detective, who worked together for a time,, were responsible for the arrest of lo men. At one stage they were involved in a particularly ugly demonstration. They arrested a man who was looting a tobacconist shop in Queen Street, handcuffed him and tried to take him away quietly. However, their action had not passed unnoticed by a woman —one of the type which played a leading part in the whole affair. Her shouts joined thoss of the man who was being led away. "Come on you men," she shouted; "do not let them take him away,"

At- once there was a wild surge of the crowd in tile direction of the shop. The detectives dragged their man into the doorway and held him as a shield against the bricks and bottles which came hurtling from the crowd. It was a moment for quick thinking by the detectives, upon whom the crowd was pressing closer and closer. "(let back or I will shoot," shouted one. It acted like rnajic—a frightened group of larrikins pressed bark on those behind and soon tiie whole crowd was grouped on the safety-zone in the middle of the street. Relief came shortly for the detectives, who spirited their arrest to the central police station. Chase Through Three Street*.

By the time the majority of arrests was made the rioters had split up into twos and threes as they sought to have the stolen property quickly hidden. There was all the thrill of a man-hunt about some of the arrests. "Whew! This man gave us a lot of trouble," said a special as he helped to escort a man into the Station. llis party had chased their quarry through three long streets to finally run him to earth on a vacant section. A detective and two specials gave chase to a man across the old railway station. As he went, the man shed packets of cigarettes and tins of tobacco, but he could not shake off his pursuers. He turned to fight against a brick wall, but he was soon overpowered and taken awav. Blows were exchanged man) times during the " cleaning up piocesS. On very' few occasions did a mail OIICO seen by the police manage to escape i (,T, j them. " All suspicions persons were he" up and searched and ibe holder ot o m ously stolen goods received short sliri from the police. . The scene at the central police station, as captures weie continually coming i'b was a remarkable one. Ihe men werS held in a special room until it was tii»s for them to l>e actually charged. ® the floor of the watch-bouse lay all sol of clothing, tobacco and cigarettes, li<p lo ' ami improvised batons. Blood-staine handkerchiefs and soiled clothing lav i n confusion on the floor. Man With £l4O. Apart from the weapons ami cnli Er articles which were taken from each inai-i very little of value was held by the P°''. ce ' There was one exception —a Dalma' ia stated to have arrived recently froni * tralia was found in possess.on of *. ■ Of this amount £135 was carried b) 1 ! clasped to his arm with elastic- , Regular constables and specials in the coiridors while the men weie ing charged. No unauthorised p el , was allowed through the front door a hose was ready to stop am a to set the men free. A minder of the rioting of the pie\»oHa' • hours was the bandaged heads of se constables, and the arrested men not showered with kindnesses. \!!J a ted quiries regarding the men were ll ' w) , 0 with suspicion. One voting till > presented himself as • a l j ns jde arrested man, wu» minuet, and questioned. . _ ,t re ets Toward three o'clock the city ■- were rid of all except, the P a J)ia polite. The watch-house began f or its normal aspect, and theiv was i" ' those on duty to rest. 1-rom . rse s could be heard the shouts am L , of the rioters, who seemed to 0 soling each oilier in their unhappy lion.