EXCITING SCENE AT AN EVICTION.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVI, Issue 26, 19 October 1888, Page 31

EXCITING SCENE AT AN EVICTION.

ANEW Boss correspondent telegraphs:— A desperate scene took place at an eviction near this town on Thursday, on the esttte of a local landlord.naxitd James Byrne. The tenant, whose name i* Thomas Summers, had jofoed the Plan of Campaign two years ago. Within the past two weeks, the eviction being expected, he had made preparation to resist the Sheriff. In order to resist the btttering-ram large earthworks were thrown np all round the boose, and outside these works trenches were dag to the depth of 4 feet. Inside the house a pump was erected, so that the supply of water should not ran short. About 600 police were present with Mr. Considine, R.M. Before the proceedings began an offer was made on behalf of the tenant which the Resident Magistrate and the officials pressed the landlord to accept as a fair one, bat withoat success. After a desperate fight of three hoars, the Emergency men failed to gain posession, and gave op the straggle. The ram was practically useless, and the moment scaling ladders were placed against the walls iron bars were thrust out, and the ladders struck down with a crash. Tbe inmates of the house used iron bars, poles, syringes, hoses, and other instruments. At leogtb, when the Bmeigencymen gave np, the landlord was asked again to settle, bat would not. An American gentleman present offered to pay half the rent owed by the tenant, bat Mr. Byrne ■aid be would not allow strangers to interfere in his business. Mr. Considine then ordered forty police with batons to rash ap the earthworks and endeavour to effect an entrance. In a few minutes they were driven back, some of them cat and bleeding. Charge after charge was made by the constabulary, only to be repulsed. Canon Doyle now interfered, and said it was a shame for the police to be engaged in such woik when a good settlement had been offered. Mr. Considine said he had to enforce th Queen's writ, and he would do so. The police were then ordered to fix bayonets, and about 20 men rushed up the earthworks. They got upon the roof, while the defenders attempted to drive them back with bars and hot water. A desperate fight ensued, tbe police endeavouring to reach the inmates by thrusting their bayonets through the roofs, the crowd outside meanwhile cheering wildly. At first it was thought toe police would succeed in capturing the house, but as the night continued the inmates got the mastery, and shortly afterwards a policeman received a blow from a bar, stumbled and fell from the top of the housa. This was the turning point of the affray. One by one the police were knocked down, rifle and bayonet in hand, until at length the whole body of police were compelled to retreat. A similar charge was afterwards made, but without success, and then the landlord was again asked to come to terms, but he refused, saying he wanted his land. Ha afterwards applied for extra police protection, but was denied it. Many of the police were cut and bruised— several of them received splashes of tar in the face and had their helmets battered and clothing torn. Towards six o'clock in the evening Mr. Redmond, M. P., and Canon Doyle, seeing that one of the gables of the house was on fire, and tbe inmates in danger, asked the defenders to come out, which tkey reluctantly did. They numbered twelve, comprising the tenant, his two sons, his brother, and eight neighbours. They were immediately arrested and brought before Mr. Considine, at Arthurstown, and remanded for a week .