The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-09-26 00:00:00

SOCIALISTS AND THE POLICE.

At the Thames Police-court, on Monday. seven
men, named Lynch, Kahan, Allman, Bockankamp,
Mowbray, Mahon, and Lyons, were charged with re-
sisting the police while in the execution of their duty.
The proceedings arose out of a demonstration of
S9c-.lalists held on Sunday, to protest against police
interference with their meetings, which was addressed
by Mr. llyndman, Dr. Aveling, Mr. Cremer, and
others. There was a crowd of several thousand
persons in front of the court-house, completely block-
ing the carriage and footways. A large additional
force of police were hastily summoned to preserve
order.

Inspector Young said that about noon on Sunday
he was on duty in Burdett-road, Limehouse, when a
procession of two or three banners, three vehicles
filled with people, and about one thousand persons
came and made a stand at the corner of Dal-street
and Burdett-road. One of them commenced to
address the crowd; but the speaker was not one of,
the prisoners. The witness and other police-
men-15 in all—tried to get at the speakers, but
were unable to do so. They were hustled about
by the prisoners and their companions. The witness
worked round to the rear of the crowd and then
saw the prisoners maw,° out and shouting to those
present. to stand round the banners to prevent the
speaker being taken. It was evidently an organised
affair. "Witness got assistance, and took the pri-
soners into custody for resisting the police. He saw
all the prisoners there, and when the witness returned
a third time he saw Bockankamp, Mahon, and Lyons
carrying a banner. As they were resisting, witness
directed that they should also be taken into custody.
They and the banner were then conveyed to the
station. There were several speakers. All this took
place at the corner of Dod-street, Burdett-road, which
was a public thoroughfare. The witness, in answer to
other questions, said he accompanied Lyons to the
station, and he wars charged with resisting the police
in Dod-street.

Police-constable Stoneham said he was on duty
with the inspector in Dod-street, when a man was
making a speech from a brake. Mowbray had hold
of the handle of the door of the brake. The
inspector told him to let go the handle, but he would
not do so, and was then taken into custody. The
mob rushed on them, and it was with great difficulty
Mowbray was got from the crowd. After he was in
custody, he said, "Let the police do their duty."
Police-constable Henry Chapman said he saw a man
named Kitts addressing a large crowd. When the in-
spector and sergeant went to apprehend him, he saw
Mahon obstruct them in their duty by closing with
others round the brake. Witness cautioned Mahon by
telling him that if he resisted the police he would
have to go to the station. With that Mahon threw
his right arm back, and it struck witness across the
chest, and forced him back amongst the crowd. Wit-
ness then seized him. On the way to the station
Mahon said to the crowd," Come on; stick to us,
men; I will be out again directly." He also incited
the crowd to prevent Kitt's arrest.
At this point Mr. Saunders had to reprove the
prisoners for their levity, and observed thatif they did
not behave themselves properly he should remand
them to prison for a weak.
Several other policemen then gave corroborative
evidence.
Dr. Edward Aveling, of 55, Great Russell-street,
was called on behalf of Kahan, and claimed the right
to affirm. He said it was arranged that the speakers
should try to enforce their right to speak, but they
were not going to offer any resistance to the police.
Every attempt was made by Mowbray and all with
him to prevent the crowd obstructing the police. He
(the witness) should speak there next Sunday.
Mr. Saunders: I advise you not to, else you will
find yourself locked up.
Dr. Aveling: I-shall speak there next Sunday, and
continue to do so in the future, until I am locked up.
The witness went on to say that the police ferociously
rushed at the banner-bearers, and the prisoners were
pushed about with unnecessary violence.
Mrs. Eleanor Aveling, who also claimed the right
to affirm, said she was present at the meeting, and
would attend all future meetings.
Mr. Saunders: You need not be continually throw-
ing that in my teeth, for it is an impertinence.
Mrs. Aveling, continuing, said she had been at many
public meetings, but this one was the quietest and
most orderly she had ever seen. The police acted
with great brutality.
Mr. William Hill, journalist, also gave evidence in
favour of the banner-bearers. _

Mr. Saunders did not consider there was any case
against Mowbray, and therefore ordered him to
be discharged. The meeting had been called by
public bills, one of which he held in his hands, and a
more scurrilous thing he had never read. Dr. Avel-
ing came to the court and told him in a most offen-
sive manner that he should go again and create an
obstruction. If he did so, he (Mr. Saunders) only
hoped he would be brought before him, and he should
know how to deal with the case. As for Lynch,
no doubt he was led away by the enthusiasm of the
moment, and had therefore been found guilty
of obstruction. Two other men were also there
whom he was sorry to see—two foreigners. He
advised these two to attend to their own business, and
if they desired to help on their fellow-men let them
go back to Germany. Mahon evidently did the best
he could to obstruct the police. Lyons was certainly
the worst of the lot, as he had been guilty of a serious
assault. With the exception of Lyons, each of the
other prisoners would be fined 405. or in default one
month's imprisonment. Lyons would be sentenced to
two months' hard labour.
Francis Kitts, a dyer, of Wandle-terrace, High-
street, Merton, was next charged with causing an
obstruction at the same time and place, and was fined
205., with the alternative of 14 days' imprisonment.
As soon as the magistrate's decision was given, the
prisoners in the dock and a large number of persons
in the body of the court called out "Shame I" An
exciting scene ensued, and at four o'clock, Mr. William
Morris, the poet, author of the "Earthly Paradise,"
was brought before Mr. Saunders, charged with
creating a disturbance in the court and assaulting a
constable, at the close of the hearing of the above
cases. Mr. Morris had been in the hands of the
police for two hours. A policeman stated that at
the close of the case there was hissing at the back of
the court. The prisoner was one of those who were
told to desist, but he refused, and was ejected from
the court. Whilst witness was endeavouring with
other constables to put the prisoner out, he became
very violent and struck witness on the chest; the
prisoner also broke the strap of his helmet. The
prisoner had been in court all the morning, and
created a great disturbance.
Mr. Morris said he could only give a direct negative
to what the constable had stated. If he asked the
constable how hard he hit him, he would imply that
he did hit him, which he did not. It was an effort
of imagination on the part of the policeman. Mr.
Morris added that he could not see any of his friends
in court.
Another policeman, who had been in the dock
during the hearing of the obstruction case, said he
heard the prisoner, with several others, hiss the
magistrate.
Mr. Morris, in defence, said, being a member of the
Socialist League, he was interested in the cases which
had been previously heard by the magistrate. He
desired to listen quietly to the evidence, but he con-
fessed that when his worship passed sentence his feel-
ings got the better of him, and he cried "Shame,"
though not loudly. It was a mistake to say that he
hissed. The policeman who came to clear himself
and his friends out of the court distinctly hustled
them. Although practically ready to go, he admitted
that he did not go, but he did not make any more
resistance than a person made when hustled.
The Magistrate (to Mr. Morris) : What are you?
Mr. Morris: I am an artist and literary man, I
believe pretty well known throughout Europe.
The magistrate said he did not think there was
reason to make much of the case, and suggested that
Mr. Morris was sorry for what had taken place.
Mr. Morris said he was sorry for having thought
aloud, but he was not sorry for baying done what he
had not done.

The magistrate said he would excuse the matter,
and told Mr. Morris that he might go.
Mr. Morris said he was not sure he should accept
such a dismissal.
The Magistrate: You can try if you like.
Mr. Morris then left the dock.