SALVATION ARMY RIOTS AT LUTON.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 2841, 31 October 1883, Page 3

SALVATION ARMY RIOTS AT LUTON.

d> (Scoiamau, August 25th.) ''* In consequence of disturbances vrhic have taken place in Luton, the Mayc and Mr J. Cumberland, J.P., issued °" proclamation, calling upon the Salvatio and Skeleton Armies to refrain froi , parading the streets. " General " Boot I ' wroto to the Mayor, stating that th *^| legal view of tho question had alread e( j been settled in favor of the precession l e . and therefore he would order both < t 3 the Luton corps to inarch out as usua id! The authorities of Luton then came I ivo the conclusion that they had no powe of and therefore, to preserve the publ ty, peace, 150 special constables were jjwoi On in on Friday week. On the evening '«' that day tho army inarched out aa usus

there being immenao crowds in the streets. A terrific rush was made to breali up the ranks, but the Salvation Armj maintained its ground. A number^ oi blows wore struck, nnd several Sal vationists and their opponents were taken in custody. In the struggle thi "captain's" wifo was crushed terribly . and fainted. Several officers from headquarters, including "Major" Day were present. Tho Borough Magistrates were occupied for five, hours last Saturday in heariiif charges arising out of the riot. Most oi the assaults wero of a trivial character, and tho Justices only ordered paymenl of cosU. Ono case was doomed more serious, and Mr Mead, counsel for tht Treasury, instructed by tho Salvation Army solicitor, prosecuted. " Sergeant' Dillingham was conducting a service in tho market square, whon a rush waa mado from tho surrounding crowd, and ho said that a shoemaker named White knocked him down and foil on his Unoes, seriously injuring him. In a:tompting to detain White, the sergeant received other blows. For m<>i-o than a week ho was medically certified unfit to attend the Court, and on Saturday got into tho witness-box with apparent difficulty, and sat during examination. Tho medical evidence • was directly contradictory. Mr Kidd Tomson, surgeon, saw him at nine tho same night, and, amon^ other things, aaid he had a swelling whero he had been knelt on as " big as a hen's egg," nnd four daysafler ho had applied leeches. Dr David Thomson, who had also been sont for, went at 10 p.m., and not knowing another medical man iiad seen him, made a thorough examination, and he said there was no swelling or trace of injury. On tho 12th lus examined tho man at tho request of both parties, and concluded thero was very littlo tho matter with him. Cross-examined by Mr Mead : You have heard Mr Tomsun'a evidence ? — I have. Will you swear thero was no swelling 1 — I will. Might it have gone down (—Not vory likely. Is it possible ?— l'd rather not express an opinion. Did you on the 12th seo leech marks ? — Yes. Do you sutrgest Mr Tomson applied thum unntcessarily ! — I don't suggest anything. The Mayor said the Bench considered tho complaint had been exaggerated, and lined defendatit £1, including costs. Another case was that of a special constable named Crow, a warehouseman, being charged with assaulting the Mayor by tilting his hat over hia eyes from behind at the swearing-in of tho body of specials. Ho wus lot oft" with an apology and payment of costs.