RIOT SEQUEL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 185, 6 August 1932, Page 11

RIOT SEQUEL.

EDWARDS SENTENCED. "PRINCIPALLY RESPONSIBLE." HIS HONOR'S COMMENT. Sentence was passed in the Supreme Court yesterday on James Henry Edwards, aged 40, canvasser, who liad been found guilty of taking part in the riot in the city on the night of April 14. The maximum sentence of two years' imprisonment was imposed. Counsel for accused asked leave to withdraw Edwards' appeal against the sentence of three months imposed on him in the Police Court on another charge. His Honor acceded to the request. "In my opinion tho verdict of the jury was perfectly right," said his Honor. "Possessing a high sense of public duty they could not do otherwise than they did. I regard you as being principally responsible for the lamentable display of tumult and lawlessness which startled tho citizens of Auckland on the night of the 14th of April, so for your misconduct you will have to suffer the maximum punishment which the law permits. Your record shows that you have been systematically active in the spread of disaffection, and I have no doubt at a!l that the determination to invade the Town Hall and attack the police, il" not designed by you, had your cordial approval and encouragement. "It is . fortunate for you that no lives were lost. Had that happened, you would have been standing your trial for something more serious than riot. As it is, you and those associated with you must accep" responsibility for inflicting injuries upon police officers from which they may never wholly recover, for the destruction of thousands of pounds' worth of property, and for bringiwg the name of a country of which we are proud into disrepute. "I shall say no more except this," said his Honor, "that 1 hope that the punishment I am inflicting upon you and other lawbreakers will make men like you understand how disastrous and futile conduct such as yours is,- and that, when it is indulged in, the law, moving swiftly and inexorably, punishes the lawbreakers with a heavy hand."