POLICE MOBBED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18141, 12 January 1921, Page 5

POLICE MOBBED

SERIOUS AFFRAY AT LYTTELTON. CONSTABLES’ PLUCKY FIGHT. (I'ib United Pbess Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, January 1L A serious affray between the police anti members of the crews of overseas Teasels " took place at Lyttelton last evening. Cooratables Baynes and Hislop arrested a seaman off the Maimoa (which arrived direct' from New York on Saturday) for using' obscene language. The man resisted, and his mates closed round and obstructed the police. A crowd collected, consisting largely of seamen and firemen, and the constables were mobbed and very roughly handled, t Bat not only did they succeed in sticking to ; their man, but they made another arrest. At the height of the distnbrance, when the two constables were about exhausted, police reinforcements arrived, ahd as the - mob still maintained its attack a constable slipped across to the police station and re- * turned with a supply of batons. Thus armed, the police forced dieir way to the station, beating off several ugly rushes by the free use of their staves. At the station the door was rushed, and another arrest was made. Stones were thrown, and so alarming was the attitude of the crowd that a threat to read the Riot Act was made. This apparently had due effect, for the crowd broke up and gradually dispersed. _ ; Constables Hislop and Baynes, who so pluokily stuck to their prisoner, were badly knocked about, the latter especially, ho having been brutally kicked while on the ground. SEQUEL AT COURT. FIVE FIREMEN CHARGED. IMPRISONMENT AND FINES.* CHRISTCHURCH, January 11. The sequel to the disturbance at Lyttelton last night took place at the Magistrate’s Court, when five firemen from the steamer Maimoa were charged before Mr S. E. M'Carthy, S.M., with various offences arising therefrom. Richard Jones was convicted and sentenced to one month’s imprisonment on a charge of using obscene language, and convicted and discharged on the charge that he resisted arrest, being ordered to pay expenses. George Henry Crowe was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment for obstructing a constable, and he was convicted on a charge of using obscene language. James Hartley was fined £lO, in default one month’s imprisonment, i for using obscene language, and Albert Beardsley and John Philben were each fined , £lO, in default one month’s imprisonment,, for inciting lawlessness. .