EVICTION ECHO.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 243, 15 October 1931, Page 8

EVICTION ECHO.

FIFTEEN MEN IN COURT. W PROCURING LAWLESSNESS" ALLEGE!?. BAILIFF GIVES" EVIDENCE. A Red Flag, pickets torn'from fences,

heavy, short pieces of wood, a slasher and' an axe, plus the usual' anti-eviction banners, seized at a "house in Norfolk Street on . Tuesday, were exhibits in the Police Court to-day, when 15 men appeared on a series of charges. The men were: William Edwin Alan Goldsmith, aged 23; Alexander Drennan, 31; William John Budd, 31; Lewis Williams, 26; Simeon Elari, 21; Donald McRae, 60; Edward Beattie, 22; Ernest Archibald Hamilton, 20; Roderick Kenneth Rowlands, 34; Cyril Arnold Vetti™er, 20; Henry Joseph Short; William George Ewing, 29; 'William' Joseph Reeves. 30; Edward Stanley Hamilton, 20; and John Henry. Dempsey,- 30. They were each charged with assaulting Arthur Henry Beer, a bailiff, while in the execution of his duty; obstructing him, procuring lawlessness,, and, furtiiei, "That intending to carry out a common purpose, they did _ assemble in such a manner as to cause .the 'people in the neighbourhood of such assembly to fear on "reasonable grounds that the persons so assembled would disturb- the peace tumultuously." There were also .charges of vagrancy. .. . . .... Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., was on .the Bench. Sub-Inspector T. Gibson prosecuted and Mr. J. F. W, Dickson appeared for the accused, each of whom pleaded not guilty. Mr. Gibson said he would only proceed with the charges of assault and pro-. mirinrr la wIeSSneSS.

Men Armed With Cudgels. Charles .Edward Parsons, bailiff and a special constable, 1 said he went with trie chief bailiff, "Mri ißeer," with a warrant, to obtain possession, of a house at -1, Norfolk Street. On arrival at the door,; which was shut, witness told those inside that he'had'a warrant. A man answered arid' said he would not let them in, as there was a woman inside. He wanted to know if another place was found for her. Witness said he could not sav, adding that all hs knew was that he had a warrant for possession of the house. Witness said that if the door was not opened, it would be forced in. A man inside then asked witness to give them five minutes. This was refused. . After waiting three or four minutes another demand was made, ■without .result, so the door was jemmied open. The spokesman.; inside said, "'They are breaking the door down. Someone" else, said, "Come on boys we will give-them a fight for/it." .Inside the passage there were about a dozen men, armed with sticks and cudgels. Witness -then called upon .the police to-assist'in getting ,the door down. The , men in the passage were ■ standing with the sticks and cudgels, raised. The police demanded.that the men put their sticks down. One of the men then said; It s no -crood boys, theyare toahiany .fin• us. . The bailiffs went.into the house without opposition 1 . : As he .went inside witness giw a slasher:. .The doors were all barricaded. .and•.the windows nail<?d. ? ' Put Their Sticks Down.

Mr: Dickson:, All this trouble could have "been obviated if ; youhad used.yo.ur common- sense and allowed, them live minutes?— Possibly so, but- we waited ' about five minutes. . Did one policeman say "Put those sticks away?"— Yes. . And the men said, "If you put. your batons away we will put our sticks away?"— Yes. They put down thensticks before the police did. Who was the warrant for possession against?— Mrs." Martinovich. Yes, a woman with no husband and five young children? —I don't know. It has nothing to do with me. Sub-Inspector Gibson: What has this to do with it?

Mr. Dickson: I am going to suggest that the whole thing was more or less of &• political agitation. ■ "I'll Brain You." Similar evidence was given by Arthur Henry Beer, bailiff, who was subjected to considerable cross-examination by Mr. Dickson as to the incident when the "bailiffs went to the door. Constable John Gaines despribed what occurred when the bailiffs advanced on the door. Witness said J he recovered from a front room of the house 26 pieces of •wood, an axe, a slasher and three pieces of rubber tubing, as well as an iron bar wrapped in paper. These were produced. Constable Bowley said he saw a number of men armed with cudgels. They menaced the police with them, and one man, holding a cudgel over his head, said, "Stand back or I'll brain you." That man was , Dreiinan, one of the accused. Mr. Dickson: We are getting stronger lis we go on. • ■ (Proceeding.)