STRATHALLAN STREET FIGHT.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 17774, 10 October 1927, Page 8

STRATHALLAN STREET FIGHT.

AN “AFTER-SIX” DISTURBANCE. There was a merry mix-up in Stratliallan"Street oil Saturday mglit shortly after six o’clock, when Constables J. Marsh and It. Walden had a very difficult job to separatp three firemen, members of the crew of the s.s. Pakeba, from their mates. . Tiie Pakcha is now short-handed, as five men are in a temporary home in North Street. From what can be gathered, the constables first came across tlie firemen in St£ fiord Street and ordered them to tlie ship. The men walked down Stratkallan Street, and there, in front of one of' the constables, one of them is alleged to have misbehaved himself. Constable Marsh immediately went to “take” him, but Ins mates intervened. Constable "Walden then came to tlie rescue and endeavoured to ward off the others while Constable Marsh made Ills man secure. There were about eight firemen altogether, and the scuffle was fast and furious. At one stage, one of the constables, it is alleged, was down on tho ground with four men on top of him. A large crowd began to gather, and the constables were frequently booed. Only two of the assemblage offered assistance. These ,two young men, who were attired in tennis clothing, jumped into the fray. After a strenuous effort, during which one of the firemen attempted to run for the wharf, three were safely bundled a waiting taxi and taken to North Street. During the process of bundling the men into the car, a boot went through, a pane of glass. Constables O’Callaghan and Devine arrived as a result of an alarm given by a prominent citizen, but tho affair was then practically over. As a result of the occurrence, three firemen will have a string of charges preferred against them at tlie Magistrate’s Court this morning. CONCERNING A BICYCLE. On Saturday afternoon, spectators at No. 3 wharf were surprised to see several constables in plain clothes on board the Pakelia. Their presence there, it is understood, was on account of a bicycle belonging to a waterside worker having been stolen. The watersider missed his bicycle, and in the search for it, it is said, was struck by a fireman from tlio ship. This affair, also, will occupy the attention of the Court on Monday morning, when two firemen will be charged with theft and assault .