WHAT POLICE SAW

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 175, 25 July 1936, Page 9

WHAT POLICE SAW

OFFICERS' EVIDENCE.

"Accused Was Agitated" Before

Incident.

REVOLVER OR CAMERA?

United Press Association.—Copyright,

(Received 11 a.m.)

LONDON, July 24.

Constable Flood, the mounted policeman referred to by the previous witness in the trial of MeMahon, was the first of the police witnesses called. He said that accused said to him, "Take that d d horse out of the way."

McMalion seemed very agitated. "I kept the horse in the same position," said witness, "until the procession came, then I faced the roadway. I had hardly turned the horse when I heard a scream and a scuffle behind my horse.

"I turned immediately and saw the accused being overpowered by several police officers."

Cross-examined, witness said he kept his eye on the prisoner as he thought lie might sliout slogans. "I did not sec a revolver until I went to Hyde Park Pol'ce Station. 1 did not see prisoner throw anything as I was turning my horse towards the King."

Anthony Dick, a commercial traveller, wlio acted as a special constable, said tliat as the King approached he saw a hand go up and knocked it away. Then he got hold of prisoner by the collar and took hold of his right arm. He saw an object, but was not sure whether it was in prisoner's left or right arm.

King 20 Yards from Accused. Witness said he could not say whether he knocked the arm before the object left the hand. He adAiitted that he noticed an object come from McMalion's hand, but did not know what it was. It went close to the King's horse.

11 Dick estimated that the King's horse ■ was not less than 20 yards from t prisoner who was in the second row. i Mr. Kerstein asked if he was sure the black object was not a camera. 1 Witness: Certainly not. The object : I saw leaving prisoner's hand struck | the King's horse.

Mr. Kerstein: You don't suggest that as you knocked the arm the object was knocked out of prisoner's hand?

Dick: I saw his arm go up with a black object and I saw the object leave his hand at the actual moment that I knocked his arm. I don't know if I knocked it out of his hand. I thought it was a ruler or something like it.

Asked if he had been reported in the Press as saying all sorts of things he did not say, Dick answered: "Yes. The newspaper statements that I saw McMahon brandishing a revolver are untrue."

Did Not Strike Blindly. Mr. Kerstein: It is not true to say you struck blindly at the revorverl Dick: No. Thomas Alsop, mounted policeman, said that something blinded him in the sunshine. It hit His Majesty's horse on the nearside hind leg below the fetlock. "I immediately dismounted and picked up the missile. I found it to be a loaded revolver." Handed a brightly-plated revolver, witness said it was not the revolver he picked up. Chief Inspector Sands said that Constable Alsop handed him a revolver which he identified as the exhibit handed to him, remarking, "The only difference is that it is now unloaded. I took out the cartridges and gave the revolver to an expert named Churchill."

Constable Daniel Mayne gave evidence that when the King was slightly to his right he saw prisoner rushing on to the roadway. He appeared to be making towards His Majesty. "I immediately rushed forward as he came into position in front of me. I grabbed his arms and shoulders. Looking over him I saw a shining object in the air fall under the forelegs of the King's horse. I distinctly saw it was a revolver. Arrest Described. Constable Mayne continued to describe McMahon's arrest and identified the cartridges and an envelope found in prisoner's possession. He said that when he asked accused his name and address, he replied: "I shan't tell you until I have had a drink of water. lam ill.

Later he said: "I wish I had done the job properly." Mr. Kerstein: Didn't he say something about suicide and shooting himself in front of the King? Witness: Not in my hearing. Mr. Kerstein: Did he say anything about Sir John Simon? Witness: No. Mr. Kerstein: You saw a shining object in the air as you rushed forward? Witness: After 1 got hold of prisoner. Mr. Kerstein: So it could not come from prisoner's hand? Witness: Yes. Mr. Kerstein: Could the object have gone into the air as the result of someone striking prisoner's hand? Witness: Not that distance.

FILM COMPANY SUED. ALLEGED PREJUDICE OF TRIAL. (Received 10 a.m.) LONDON, July 24. The King's Bench Division has granted another application for a rule nisi for attachment for contempt of Court against Gaumont-British Distributors, Limited, and the manager and proprietors of the Hendon Central Cinema. An affidavit from McMahon's solicitor, Mr. Alfred Kerstein, stated that he protested against a Gaumont-British news film, described as "an attempt to assassinate the King." Despite the assurances from the company to delete the offending passages, the 'film continued to be shown in a form calculated to prejudice the fair trial of accused.

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