FIGHT IN CITY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23275, 18 February 1939, Page 12

FIGHT IN CITY

CONSTABLE RESISTED 1 HOSTILE BYSTANDERS * CIVIC SQUARE DISTURBANCE I DESPATCH OF REINFORCEMENTS An attempt by a constable to break up a fight between two young men led to the development of an ugly situ a- - tion among a crowd of some 200 people in Fergus Street, Civic Square, shortly after 10 o'clock last night. One of the combatants escaped and, when a struggle occurred between the constable and the other man, a portion of the crowd joined sides and took part. Eye-witnesses stated that two .young men were seen fighting in the darkness of motor-cars parked at the back of the amusement alley in Civic Square. The attempt to separate them was made by Constable it. E. Fell, but one of the men took to his heels, while the other put up a vigorous resistance. Ah the constable strove to handcuff him and take him into the light of an adjacent service station, he was surrounded by a crowd, a section of which became hostile.

Several civilians took a hand in the disturbance, some attempting to assist Constable Fell and others seeming to aid the arrested man. Insults were hurled by women, and at one stage, until more bystanders came to his aid, the constable appeared to be the centre of an antagonistic throng.

Urgent demands for reinforcements were received at the Central Police Station. Detectives, who were about to complete their normal nights work, were despatched in hastily-commis-sioned patrol cars, while other men in the barracke were, hurriedly turned out. Finally 15 detectives and constables were on the scene.

In the meantime the struggling combatant had been handcuffed and was taken in a car to the Central Police Station and lodged in the cells. Subsequently a young woman was arrested. For about an hour a large party of police were engaged in making inquires at the scene of the disturbance. '0