ALLEGED INCITING

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 52, Issue 204, 10 June 1932, Page 8

ALLEGED INCITING

SEQUEL TO AUCKLAND RIOTS. CHARGES AGAINST EDWARDS. (Per Press Association). AUCKLAND, June 9. James Henry Edwards, aged 40, a canvasser, and .a leading Communist in Auckland, appeared in the Police Court to-day on charges of inciting lawlessness on April 14, and of taking part in a riot. The Crown Prosecutor conducted the case and Edwards was represented by a prominent barrister. The Magistrate (Mr Hunt) rejected an application that the first charge, which is a summary one, should he deferred until Edwards had been tried in the Supreme Court on the other charge. Evidence was given that when part of tlie procession had reached the Town Hall, Edwards was seen in possession of a megaphone, and was heard to say, “Get round them, hoys, and take their batons off them.” A rush was then made against the police. Cross-examined, the witness, Constable Edwards, said that he did not see the accused trying to check the crowd or hear him counselling them against violence. Another constable said that he accused Edwards, in advising the crowd to take batons from the police, added, “They have shown us violence, so we will That was As far as the accused got before he was struck down by a police baton. Evidence on similar lines was given by other policemen. Constable Allen said that Edwards had previously been speaking from the balustrade of the Town Hall, working the crowd into a frenzy. Several police constables gave evidence after luncheon on the lines of the evidence given by previous witnesses. On account of the illness of a police witness, the hearing of the case was then adjourned until Monday, when an indictable charge also will be made.