DISORDERLY CROWD.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 January 1920, Page 5

DISORDERLY CROWD.

SCENE DURING AN ARREST. INCIDENT IN CHRISTCHURCH. A somewhat exciting incident occurred at Sydenham, Christchurch, one evening lafit week when Constable Rftss, tbe Sydenham Police Force, was effecting the arerst of an elderlv man on a charge of assaulting three little children, two girls and a boy. The constable received a complaint'shortly after five o'clock, and lie immediately went along to the house, where the old man lived. By the time he arrived, a fairly large crowd had collected outside the house, composed mainly of women and children. Up to this time the crowd had been quiet and orderly. Constable Ross went inside and was proceeding to question the man about the matter when an exciting diversion occurred. The father of one of the children had arrived home from his work, and on learning of what had happened he is ?aid to have declared that he would "do for" the old man. Armed with a heavy piere of timber ho rushed off to the house and tried to enter. Meanwhile Constable Ross'had locked up the front portion of the house, and was at the rear with the, old man. The father, finding his entrance blocked, smashed in the front door and practically all the windows. He was not successful in reachin? the room occupied by the constable and his prisoner. The crowd outside had by this time grown to nearly a hundred. It included a disorderly element, and several free fights occurred. Sides were taken, some on behalf of the infuriated father, and some in favor of the old man, but no one went to the assistance of the constable, who was engaged 111 retaining hiVi prisoner while at the same time keeping the crowd at bay. Things looked very nsrly for a time. After a while a flection of tlie crowd held the father back, while others telephoned to the Central Police Station for assistance. Two constables were despatched from Christchurch, and when they arrived they had to force their way through the crowd in order to get. inside the house. After much difficulty the prisoner was taken to the city. Two of the constables had then to remain hehind in order to quieten the crowd, which was in a most excited state.