CASE DISMISSED

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 12, 15 January 1914, Page 4

CASE DISMISSED

AN INCIDENT ON THE MAHENO. " WHERE'S~REEVES ? " (BY TELEGRAPH.— PRESS ASSOCIATION.) ■ .AUCKLAND, 14th April! A charge' of 'assault — arising out of, the , incident on the steamer Maheno, when Charles Thomas Reeves, prominent' in I.W.W. circles, and a constant, speaker during the progress of the re^ cent'strike, was objected to as a steerage, passenger on the vessel and forcibly ejected — was heard at the Police Court to-day. ,The defendant, T. E. Brook, was represented by Mr. A. N. Moody, and the assault complained of consisted of seizing complainant by the arm and pushing him dff the steamer. Mr. Mahoney^ appeared for Reeves. In- his evidence, the complainant stated that he was followed to the boat by a special constable,- who rushed to the hold, and called out : " Here's Reeves; come up, boys." The volunteer firemen and special constables assembled quickly, and hurried towards him with excited queries, "Where's Reeves?" Then he was* grabbed by both arms, which were twisted and pressed upwards at his back, causing paiii, and hustled , off the steamer and along the wharf. _ On the way he was hit and kicked, his hair was* pulled, and his clothing torn. Defendant, whom he knew well and saw_ at the head of the crowd for some distance, was the man who caught him by one arm. The complainant was closely examined as to his general conduct . and mode of living, his associates, public utterances, his participation in the recent strike, and his" demeanour towards the special constables. * Mr. Moody asked him about a statement, which he was said to have made^ to the effect that the strikers should revenge themselves ' upon the special constables by visiting their farms and interfering with their wives and daughters. This had aroused intense hostility against him. Reeves vigorously denied making such a statement. " Mr. Moody : DM you make any statement to that effect? — Never. . - Did you make a threat . at all against farmers' wives and daughters ? — I have denied it. • . You have been opposed to the special constables ?— Yes, where they came along to oppose the interests of the strikers. And the farmers?— lf they came down to get, their butter, and cheese away only, certainly' not; Were you opposed to them? — If you include the wholesale category of special constables, yes. And there were uniform police about at' the time?— Yes, and to their shamo they took no action. , Reeves admitted having been fined recently on a charge of disturbing a parade of schoolboys, and he also admitted having given evidence in a case before the Licensing Committee. He advocated not sabotage, he said, but intelligence, in carrying on the strike. He was leaving for Sydney because he was tired of this country, and wanted a change. The' 'Court decided 'that there was not sufficient evidence to justify a conviction for assault, and dismissed the case. • ,