CHRISTCHURCH.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3563, 11 September 1879, Page 2

CHRISTCHURCH.

Tins Day. (Before G. L. Mellish, Esq., R.M., O. G. Parker and F. de C. Malet, Esqs.) Deunkbnnkss.— A first offender was fined ss. Inciting to Resist.— John Toon was charged with inciting to resist the police in the execution of their duty. Superintendent Broham described the scene at the OddfellowB 1 Hall on fche previous evening, the place being rushed. On the hall being cloared the mob commenced stone throwing, and followod tho police from point to point of tho town. At one detachment of police a numbor of stones were thrown, and accused shouted out—" Qire ifc to them, boy. ! slate them, boys ! " He was then arrested with considerable difficulty. Accused said he threw nothing, and that ho did nofc say any such thing. Inspector Hickson was prepared, to offer corroborative evidenoe if necessasy. In reply to the Bonch, Inspector Hickson said that the cases of inciting to resist were similar to ono another. In the cases now before the Bench, however, there was worse oonduct, stone throwing having been resorted to, and when prisoner was arrested it was nearly 11 o'clock. The Benoh decided to take tho charges of inciting together. Richard Smith, Thomas Poole, William Ohamberloin, John Toon, and John Calvert were then called. Constable Trevelyan deposed to the arrest of Richard Smith in High street about five o'clock ; he could nofc, however, remember fche language used. Accused said he wasn't away from his missus ten minutes before he was took up. William Chamberlain was stated to have called out — " Rush the police." Calvert was arrested in Lichflold street, where he rushed at the police when they wero conveying o prisoner to tho dep6t, the constablo describing him ai having hooted, yelled, &c. Thomas Poole was arrested in Lichfield stroet about six o'clock. The arresting constable said a cused called out " Rush tho b — police, and don't let them take the prisoner." Accused would take his oath he never used such an expression. Inspector Hickson deposed that he Beveral times saw people shouting ond yelling, making use of the expression " Wiro into the bobbies," and trying to trip up tho police. Witness had on ono or two occasions previous to tho arrest taken prisoner by the collar and put him back, letting him go when he recognised him, in tho hope that he would behave properly. Accused now said that Inspector Hickson was like a madman, and caused all the row. Bcrgcant Morice gave evidence of tho violent conduct of accused after he was arrested, olthough witness bogged him to come quietly ; ho had never seen a man behave in a more violent manner. A constable gave evidence of Poole's conduct earlier in the evening, when he was calling out " Rush them, rush them." Accused said he had a witness, a Mr Buckley, who, however, did not appear when called upon. A Mr Marsh was also called for the defence, but •lid not appear. In reply to the Bench, Toon said he looked on tbe whole matter as a lark, which he supposed everybody enjoyed. Smith repeated his statement, amidst laughter, that he had only just left his missuß when he was arrested. Calvert Baid that he was pushed by others, and that he wa« wrongly arrested, as he did not even open his lips. He had been in Christchurch 20 years, and did not think anything could be brought againsfc hiß character. The Bench said this appeared to bo the first occasion on which there had been any very objectionable conduct. Things had been carried a little too far, and stone-throwing and inciting the police could not be put up with for a moment. Smith, Chamberlain, and Calvert did not feom to havo been so bad, and the Bench would be inclined to dismiss tho.e cases, hoping thot the parties would behave better in future. Toon seemed to have incited the mob against the police when one of them had been knocked down by a Btone. This being a first offence, an exceptionally lenient view would be taken, and a fine of 20s would be imposed. Poole appeared to hove been the worst of the lot, and would be fined 40s. The accused were ordered to pay cost of cab-hire in each case. Rioting. — William Burnside, Samuel Faulkner, William Clcary, Charles Prin, John Andrews, snd William Buckley were charged with behaving themselves bo as to provoke a breach of the peace. Evidenco having beon given as to flour-throwing, &0., Andrews and Buckley denied fche charge. Constable Neil, who was on duty in plain clothes, gave evidence against Andrews, deposing that he saw his right hand elevated and one of the constables struck with a piece of clay. The accused deposed on oath thafc he was not near the Oddfellows' Hall, that he was surrounded by a mob, and that a man immediately in front of him picked up something and threw it at fcho police. Buckley now admitted picking up the remains of a pockago of flour and throwing it, and evidence in support of fchis statement waa forthcoming. The Bench would take a very lenient view, not desiring to pufc too hard a construction on the matter-. All the cases would be dismissed, in the hope that the partieß would not be found again behaving in the same schoolboy sort of way.