RIOT SEQUEL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 183, 4 August 1932, Page 3

RIOT SEQUEL.

RETRIAL OF FOUR MEN. EMOTIONAL APPEAL DEPRECATED. ACCUSED FOUND GUILTY. The trial of the four men .charged in connection with the riot in the city on April 14 was continued at the Supreme Court to-day before Mr. Justice Herdman and a jury. Accused, concerning whom a jury disagreed at the first trial, in May, are Oswald Bourbeau, 51, waterside worker; William John Budd, 35, seaman; John William McCorkindale, 37, miner; and Albert William Scarles, 26, seaman. " Two charges were preferred against each man, namely, of taking part with • lames Henry Edwards and others in a riot, and of taking part in an unlawful assembly. Searles was separately defended, and the other three men were represented by the same counsel. Addressing the jury on behalf of Searles this morning, counsel said his client bore an absolutely unblemished record. He had never been in any kind of trouble previously, and he had years of good service to his credit. There were marked inconsistencies in the evidence of the police officers, and several contradictory statements regarding accused's movements had been made. On the other hand, accused had told a perfectly straightforward story, and his knowledge of what occurred showed that he was inside the Town Hall when the rioting took place outside. Searles had a young wife, and the consequences of a conviction might well have disastrous consequences to both.

Tho Crown Prosecutor said the jury must not bo moved by any appeal on behalf of Searlcs' family. If side issues were taken into consideration, and emotional appeals were permitted, such matters as the grave injuries inflicted on police officers might equally be mentioned. The jury's simple task was to decide on the evidence whether or not Searlcs took an active part in the riot-

: :ig. The evidence clearly showed that ho threw a batten at one police officer, that he knocked another clown with a rail, and also that, when arrested, he had a heavy piece of wood in his hand. The ease was clear against him, as it was against Bourbcau, Budd and McCorkindale.

Summing up, his Honor said although the accused Bourbcau denied assaulting n police officer he admitted that he himself had been struck. It was for the iury to decide why ho had been struck. TJudd and McC&rkindale had both been clearly identified, and there was the (icfini'te evidence of four police officers against Searlcs.

The jury returned after the luncheon adjournment with a verdict of guilty ;:crainst all four accused on fhe first count, that of rioting. Accused were remanded for sentence.