POLICE MOBBED

Otago Witness, Issue 3488, 18 January 1921, Page 6

POLICE MOBBED

SERIOUS AFFRAY AT LYTTELTON. CONSTABLES’ PLUCKY FiGIIT. CHRISTCHURCH, January 11. A serious affray between the police and members of the crews of overseas vessels took place at Lyttelton last evening. Constables Baynes and Ilislop arrested a seaman off the Maimoa (which arrived direct from New York on Saturday) for using ol> scene 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 anil very roughly handled. But not only did they succeed in sticking to their man, but they made another arrest. At the height of the distubrance, when the_ two constables were about exhausted, police reinforcements arrived, and as the mob still maintained 11 s attack a constable slipped across to the police station and returned with a supply of batons. Thus armed, the police forced their 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 pluckilv stuck to their prisoner, were badly knocked about, the latter especially, h© having be.en brutally kicked while on the ground. SEQUEL AT COURT. CHRISTCHURCH, January 11. The sepuel 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 be was convicted on a charge of using obscene language. James Hartley was fined £lO, in default one month’s imprisonment, for using obscene language, and Albert Beardsley and John Phil bon were each fined £lO, in default one month’s imprisonment, for inciting lawlessness.