THE BIG RIOT

Evening Star, Issue 21090, 30 April 1932, Page 12

THE BIG RIOT

EVIDENCE OF PREPARED WEAPONS [Pra United Pkess Association.] AUCKLAND, April 30. The total number of police on duty at the Town Hall and in the city on the night of the big riot was thirty. Out of that number twenty-one were removed injured, several seriously. These figures were given by Detec-tive-sergeant Solo in evidence at the Police Court to-day. He said the total of thirty included reinforcements. Not a third of the total was present at the Town Hail when the first attack was made by tho mob. Witness said several prepared weapons were found by tho police, including pieces of iron, a steel tube, a baton filled with lead, pieces of piping, an iron flail, pieces of steel tubing with rope in tho centre, a blacksmith's hammer, and a heavy steel hydrant cover, which was thrown at Constable Cook and severely injured him.

One of tho principal witnesses when tho hearing of the charges of rioting was resumed, was a taxi-driver, Cyril Whittle. Ho said that on the night of April 14 ho was called to Park road, near tho hospital, and there a man with his head bandaged asked to be driven to the Town Hall. Witness said: “Do you expect me to take you down there like you are?” The man replied; “I’m Jim Edwards, and while I’m in your car you are the safest man in Auckland.” Witness drove the man down at about 8.40 o’clock. On reaching the fringe of the crowd, Edwards asked a man how things were going. Witness then drove Edwards home, and later Edwards returned to the Town Hall with a woman, who, witness presumed, was Mrs Edwards. Edwards at this time had a megaphone. The woman addressed Edwards not to leave the car when it returned to the Town Hall. Edwards replied : “ I’m not going to the cooler to-night. I’ll get half a dozen men to picket my house.” Fourteen men were committed for trial on the charge of participating in tho riot on April 14. In all, sixtythree witnesses were heard, including most of the Police Force. Accused reserved their defence. Two asked for bail, which was fixed at £SOO.