A Saturday Night Disturbance.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXI, Issue 8831, 11 July 1905, Page 1

A Saturday Night Disturbance.

(Chi'istclmrch Press.) A street disturbance, the like of which, fortunately, for. tho law abiding character which tile citizens of Christclnirch have long borne, has been rare, occurred in High street, near the intersection of Cashel street, on Saturday night shortly after eight o'clock. The fracas arose out of tin- arrest of a young man on a, charge of drunkenness, and before order was restored nine others, charged with inciting to resist, the police or with assaulting constables in the execution of their duty, were arrested. Of the ten persons taken into custody, eight, had been bailed out yesterday. Shortly after eight o'clock, Constable M'Lellan arrested a young man who was apparently very much under the inlluence. of liquor. The young man is said to be a, member of a local football club, lie became very disorderly on being arrested, and is alleged to have used obscene language. The struggle which ensued between him and the constable attracted the attention ol the large crowd in the vicinity, included in the crowd there are said to have been a number of footballers and many young men. Instead of attempting to assist the constable, many of these tried to rescue the prisoner. In the struggle that ensued, Constable M'Lellan, who bail one handcuff on his prisoner, was thrown down, and it is alleged he was kicked on tile legs and back, and also rolled over and over ill the gutter. So serious was his plight that hut for the timely arrival of Constables Ward atld llogan, lie would in all probability have received injuries of a very grave nature.

Of all the civilian!) who took part in the scenes, only one, it appears, rendered any assistance to Constable M'Lellan in the earlier stages. This man, whose name has not been ascertained, gave valuable help to Constable M'Lellan in handcuffing the prisoner, and also endeavored to keep back the crowd which was attempting to effect a rescue. The gathering by this time had swelled considerably in numbers, and it is estimated that- there were about three thousand people shouting and struggling. The task of tho three constables was rendered very difficult by them. Many young men, who were to all appearances quite sober, wcro inciting others to interfere with the constables, and some were actually assaulting them. After considerable struggling the constables managed to get their prisoner inside the Christchurch Meat Company's shop in Cashel street, the doors of which were closed. Komo of the crowd were attempting to break into the shop, and others were assaulting the constables who had arrived to reinforce tho police. The prisoner was taken along the right-of-way into Hereford street., where a cab was oli tained, in which he was driven to the loekup.

Meanwhile the tumult outside tin; shop continued, and the other nine arrests in connection with the affair were made. The temper of the crowd was still of a, very unreasoning character, and the constables had groat difficulty in getting their prisoners to the lock-up. On the Hereford street bridge about half-past. nine, o'clock a crowd estimated at over a thousand completely blocked the way, and appeared determined to prevent tile progress of (he constables. In order to clear a way Sergeant Donovan ordered tho police to get out their batons. This had tho desired effect, and a way was made without the police requiring to use force. For bourn after the actual occurrence crowds lingered 111 the vicinity of the bridge and also near tho Meat Company's shop.

Constable M'Lellan's clothes wcro covered ■with mud when ho reached tlic police sUi tion. Owing to the injuries lie received in the scuflic lie was unable to take up duly yesterday morning, but was able to do so last night. When the constables took the first of their prisoner.*) into the Meat Company's shop the crowd began pushing towards the entrance, and a number were forced into tlie building before the doom could be closed by the police. Those who were in were naturally anxious to get out as quickly as possible in order not to bo mixed, up in the affair in any way, and finding the ordinary exit closed clambered over the meat laden counter and out through tho window. Tho shopmon, annoyed at this proceeding, remonstrated with the intruders, and further altercations and disturbances followed in consequence. An eyo witnoss atateß that the sceno in the shop waß a most disorderly one. The constables wore struggling with the prisoners, some members of tho crowd were assisting tho prisoners by interfering with the police, others, chased by the shopmen, wore clambering over the meat in their eagerneSß to get out, while others again were hurling legs of mutton and slabs of beef at tho constables. Eventually » he 'ntruders were ejected, and the shop cleared and locked up for tho night. During the height of the riot the crowd i" J " ualit y was 30 dense that many who had become drawn into it found it impossible to got out, and were drawn hither and thither as the main masß shifted its position. The cab stand, opposite Freeman's, waß invaded, and tlio cabmen had to drive off to prevent their vohicloß being surrounded and locked in.

About twenty polico officers, constables, plain clothes constables, and detectives were engaged in quelling tho disturbance.