EDWARDS RELEASED

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 139, 14 June 1932, Page 5

EDWARDS RELEASED

LEAVE TO APPEAL GRANTED. COMMITTAL ON SECOND CHARGE. The hearing of the charges of inciting lawlessness and taking part with others in a riot on April 14, brought against James Henry Edwards, aged 40, the Communist, ended at the Police Court late yesterday afternoon. Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., said a great deal of damage resulted from the riot and ho had no hesitation in holding that the words used by Edwards when lie advised tho crowd to take the batons from the police incited lawlessness. On that charge Edwards was sentenced to three months' imprisonment. Counsel's plea that sentence should be deferred until after Edwards had been tried at the Supreme Court on the rioting charge failed. Counsel then gave notice of appeal on the ground that the verdict was against the weight of evidence. Considerable argument took place between the magistrate and counsel for Edwards on the question of appeal, but eventually, in chambers, Mr. Hunt fixed security for appeal at £20. The bond was immediately entered into, and Edwards was released. The hearing of the indictable charge of taking part in a riot occupied an hour. The evidence given by witnesses for the Crown in the recent cases of rioting against the 14 men at the Supreme Court was read over to each witness, who then signed the depositions. Detective Sergeant Doyle was crossexamined by counsel for Edwards. He said the warrant for, Edwards' arrest was issued on April 15, the day after the riot. Edwards gave himself up on May 31. Counsel: When was the information on the charge of taking part in a riot laid? —On June 2. Edwards pleaded not guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial.