Serious Fracas

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 58, Issue 70, 24 April 1929, Page 7

Serious Fracas

Per Press Association.

A CONSTABLE ATTACKED Pick Handles Used To Save Policeman

CRIES OF "KILL HIM"

GISBORNE, This day. At Te Araroa on Saturday night a serious iracas occurred. wlien a mob of excited 51 aoris, with 0110 or two Europeans, attacked and assaulted Constable Tliorn. Cries of "Kill hiin! Kill liim!" were heard by the whito re&idents, a nuniber of wliom went to tlio constable's assistance, and in a few minutes a strenuous strugglo ensued, tlio constable's helpers findiiig it necessary to arm tbemselves with pick liandles before! tlie unruly 1110b could be quelled. Two of the constable's assailants wero knocked out in the affray and phued under nnvst. J'iigbt otbers wero caught 011 5T011- 1 day and oue yesterday. The trouble aroso when Constahle j Tborn liad occasion to ojcct, from a picture tlieatie, a 51aori who was caus- j ilig a disturbance. A littlo later be was called out of tlie tlieatre and found ' two nativos figlitiug, oue of wliom took j to liis lieels. j The constahle gave cliase but was j met by two pakebas and several 5Iaoris, who adopted a bostile attitude. Ono pakelia tlirew a stone, which struck tbe officor 011 tbe back oi ihe neck and knoclccd liint to tlie ground. Tho mob fcll on tlie oonslable and some caught him by tbe tliroat, otbers puncliing and kicking liim Tbe sbouis attracted tbe attention of a nuniber of Eurnpeans. wbo liastenod to tlie rescne. Tbe cnnstahlo, by tliis time, was in n sorry pligbt and securing pick handles from a neighbouring store. tbe rescuers soon quelled tbe disturbance. Sovprnl of tbe 1110b bad tbeir hoads cut opcn and other iniurips inflicted. Fortunalely 110110 of tbe dofonders tycre knocked out, altbougb several rcccived painful blows.