"Spes-hells" Run Amok.

NZ Truth, Issue 443, 13 December 1913, Page 2

"Spes-hells" Run Amok.

Fully Charged on a Charger.

Watson Tyers, Vivian-street, Wellington, writes:— ' •Evidently it is upt safe to ibe on the footpath, let alone the- roads,' of Wellington whilst the Nei'oic Herdman's paid mouutetl henchmen are around, as the following episode will prove. I happened to be making* my jway home from work at 1.30 p.m. lon Saturday^ last along Tarariakistreet, when, to my surprise (I was on the pavement), I was suddenlyconfronted by a mounted special. Said special was m a state of setmiintoxication and wielding a pickhandle m a most menacing manner to myself and other pedestrians. He said to no, "Get to hell out of this. We will- make. the bastards of Wellington 'sit up.* " Discretion being tho better 'part -.of 'valor, and with the knowledgo that one -these days receives scant courtesy, apart from justice, at the local Magistrate's Court (especially those who come m contact with specials, or if one is unfortunnto enough to be a Water- [ side Worker, as, .witness the recent decisions of Magistrate Riddeli), I moved along, and, investigating 1 the matter, it appeared that half a dozen specials were cantering along Taranaki-street, and all but rodo down a number of children playing m the road. A man standing on the pavement sang out to the specials to bo more careful, at the same time pulling one child to a nlaco of safety. One of tho "spes-hells" pulled up and turned his horso and aiked tho man "What the b - hell ho had to do with it." Tho man still remonstrating, naturally other peoplo stopped to see what was on, and, during this period, one of the other mounted "speS'hells" turned his horse and come on the people at the charge, smashing a man on the shoulder. This dono without any provocation. This semi-intoxl-cated "spes-holl" charged all and sundry- In fact, ' the way ho was racing down with his baton m ,tho air, it was on tho lips of everyone that the man was a "maniac." I think it, is quite time these men were medically inspected and bad instructions m tho uso of cold baths.