A STREET FRACAS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 15270, 19 July 1920, Page 4

A STREET FRACAS.

As a result of a fracas that^ occurred m Gladstone road on Saturday night a man named Peter Knudson appeared before Mr. J. S. Barton, S.M., at the Magistrate's Court, this mornfhg. It appears from a statement made shortly after the occurrence oh Saturday night, by Sub-Inspector Cassells, that at about 6.15- p.m., Constables Gribben and Campbell were proceeding down lowei Gladstone road, past the 1 Albion hotel right-of-way, and observed, a man,, defendant, m the alleyway In a drunk and disorderly condition. The constables advised him to go home and continued their tour of duty. On returning a little later, they found the man still m the right-of-way, Nind using inaecent language. The police arrested the man, and a demonstration, followed, a number of bystanders, it is alleged, taking part against the constables. Missiles were thrown, including a bottle, which struck one of 'the constables on the head, and both officers were subjected to rough usage. The melee attracted a considerable ci-owd and a. telephone message was received by the Sub Inspector, who hurried to the scene- In the meantime, however. Detective McLeod, Constable Morris and ex-Constable Butterworth had arrived, and with several well-disposed: citizens had gone to the assistance ot Constables Gribben and Campbell, and | tiie arrest was effected. sub-Inspector Cassells stat|fl that the names of several of the onlookers who are alleged to have taken a hostile part m tbe demonstration against the police, had been secured, and these participants would be suitably dealt with. Tlie action of the constables, the Sub-Inspecor mentioned, was commendable for its coolness m trying circumstances. SEQUEL IN COURT. Peter Knudson appeared before Mr. J. S. Barton this morning, and pleaded guilty to charges of drunkenness, .breach of the peace, and the use of obscene language. on the first charge Knudson was convicted and fined 10s and costs as. The circumstances m the other cases were- stated by Sub-Incpccor Cassells as above, with the addition that accused had challenged Constable Gribben to fight, under incitement frdhi memliers of the crowd, some of whom were greater offenders than the accused. The demonstration was the throwing of bottles and bedroom utensils from the' upstairs portion ot the hotel. Accused had once previouslybeen convicted of assault, m 1915. The scene on Saturday night was a disgraceful one, and accused was not as much to blame as others m the crowd. His Worship remarked that probably liquor was to blame for the trouble; SubInspector Cassells stated that on account of an accident he had had, accused's condition rendered him easily susceptible to the effects Of drink, and he was a man who sLould not touch liquoV. Ills Worship considered that the accused's' drunken condition was not an excuse or a mitigation of the offences charged, as the case concerned not only accused and the police but, also the public, whose safety wa-? m the care of the police. The occurrence was a serious breach, of the peace, and it was duueuit to imagine circumstances which more fully justified a aeavy fine being inflicted. On the charge