+
536
something serious was dene there was a strong probability that thore
would be a violent senault on the pelice, He knew that he had
attempted te arrest one of the men, and that the crowd had rushed
between him and his prisoner and forced him to release hip. He
could see the neb trying to get by him. In fact Mr.King had taken
●very possible precaution to warn this mob before giving the final
erders.
He knew the precautions which the Government had taken to
deal with this particular situation. He knew that the Governmzat
regarded it as of the utmost importance that these men should not
be permitted to leave the Colony. He was alse entitled to take
inte pensideration the general psychology of a meb which had already
broken through police feroce put in position for the express purpose
of stepping them, He knew perfectly well that he had get a large
assembly of men who were prepared to go through with their purpose
at all costs, and that there was no telling where it would end unless
the movement was stepped. Everyone of these considerations was
prosent in Mr.King's mind. He had made every show of force it was
possible to make etler than actually firing. He knew that the previous day a large number of people had been turned back. This was the culminating motion when these people sent back said "We will
meet together:collect the biggest number we can and we will ge through by faros". Every one of these considerations Fas in Mr. King's mind, and these are the omsiderations which you will undoubtedly take inte your consideration when arriving at your decision.ca te whether the action of 'r,Fing was reasonable or unreasonable. Consider this aspect also. What weald have been the result if Mr.King in d not given the order to fire. The position, I submit, was this. The mob would have been flushed with success. They would have feroed en two occasions two armed bodies of police arrayed for the express purpose of stepping them. There would have been a stampede. There would undoubtedly have been a very much greater less of life for many reasons. Het very much further en this neb would have arrived at comparativaly open country. You would have to have had numerous forces to centrel the mob there. The only way