AN AMAZING SCENE.

Thames Star, Volume LXII, Issue 17386, 11 June 1928, Page 6

AN AMAZING SCENE.

IN HOUSE OF COMMONS. CARRIED OUT BY POLICE. There was an amazing- scene in the British House of Commons recently, when a stranger sitting in the Public Gallery suddenly leapt forward shouting and had to be forcibly removed by attendants and plain-clothes policemen. A debate instituted by the Socialists condemning the existence of a syndicated Press was proceeding, and one speaker had- just observed that journalists should combine for their v r.protection against such syndieab s. Suddenly a middle-aged, red-faced man sitting in one of the back rows of the Public Gallery jumped up and shouted, “I can give them that protection.” Then he clambered over the seats in front of him, crossed two partitions surmounted by spikes, and almost before anyone was aware of what he was trying to do reached the Peers’ Gallery

in the very front of this part of the House. SEIZED BY POLICEMEN. He was followed by one of the attendants, who scrambled after him in an attempt to restrain him, and eventually reached him just as he was clutching the last partition in front of the Peers’ Gallery. There was an idea at the moment that ho intended to climb over it and jump down on to the floor of House itself, but at this moment several plain-clothes policemen rushed in from the side doors, seized hold of him, and carried him by head, arms and legs, still struggling, from the House. Before he was removed there was for some moments a fierce struggle on the floor of the Press Gallery and one visitor jumped over to help the first attendant in dealing with the disturber. ‘•Don't throttle him,” shouted Commander Kenworthy from the floor of the House, and many members stood up in their seats to get a better view

of the incident. People in the Public Gallery also sood up and two or three women screamed excitedly. The interrupter was removed still struggling to the office of the inspector of police at the House of Commons, and Dr Vernon Davies, the Conservative member for Royton. Lancashire, examined him and certified him to be suffering from acute neurasthenia. He was taken afterwards in an ambulance to Westminster Hospital. He told the police that he had “come to see the Prime Minister.” He seemed unaware of what he had done in the Gallery. He gave his name as Edward ’Charles Humphreys, aged 32, and an address near Battle, Sussex.