THE DISTURBANCE IN THE SQUARE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4905, 21 March 1894, Page 2

THE DISTURBANCE IN THE SQUARE.

Proceedings in the R.M. Court. Fined Five Shillings, At- the Chriatchuroh Resident Magisdent Magistrate's Court to-day, before Mr E. Beetbam, S.M., and Mr E. Weatenra, T.P., Frederick Coomb 3 was charged with, b-'uimour calculated to provoke a breach of the peace by striking persons with a Bbiuk in a. public place, to wit, tho Cathedral Square, on March 20. Inspector Broham prosecuted, and Mr Donnelly appeared for accused, who denied the charge. Inspector Broham called Constable Fitzgerald, who deposed that he was on ' duty in Cathedral Square on Tuesday evening. Thero was a large number of people in the square between eight and ten o'clock. At a quarter to ten a disturbance took place, and witness saw the defendant with a stick in his hand hitting out indiscriminately. Saw him deliver a number of blows with the stick. One person was hit with it, and several people became much, exoited. Defendant was perfectly sober at the time, but appeared to be very much excited. He had a light walking-atick, and used it pretty freely. To Mr Donnelly: There was no other disturbance in the Square while witness was there. There was a good deal o£ hooting and screaming during the time the meeting was being held. G. J. Smith deposed that he was in Cathedral Square last evening attending a F rohibitionistf meeting. A . large crowd I was present, but as far as E he saw there was no serious disturbance. Certainly there was a little friendly " horae play " among portions of the crowd, which wag a very good-humoured one. Two slight disturbances occurred before the meeting terminated. At the second disturbance witness saw a young fellow using a stick and witness broke it up. This disturbance took place near the torches, and witness could see that some people were defending the torches while others were attempting to take them away from those who were holding them. To Mr Donnelly : Witness did not know whether defendant belonged to the Prohibition party or not. Mr Donnelly then called the defendant, who deposed that he was a member of a temperance society and was one of the party holding the meeting in the Square on Tuesday evening. Witness attended the meeting as a spectator and listened attentively to the speakers till ten minutes to ten o'olock, when he tamed to go home. Before be gob out of the Square he looked round and saw some persons make an attack on the torch-holders. Went back for the purpose of defending his party and hit a man who was trying to take one of the torches. Hit the man with a stick. Mr Beetham : " What did you uss a stick for?" Defendant : " Because I was excited and did not like to see my party get beaten." Mr Beetham : " You were quite right in defending your party, but I advise you not to use a stick next time. You will be fined 5a and coßts."