ECHO OF RIOTS

Hokitika Guardian, 7 July 1932, Page 5

ECHO OF RIOTS

AN APPEAL HADE AGAINST YEAR’S SENTENCE. (Ter Press Association — Copyright.) WELLINGTON, July 6. An echo of tlie disturbance wilich took place in the vacant section 'ill Cuba Street on May 11th last,' /tad which ended in the police making a baton charge against the crowd present, was heard in the Supreme Court to-day, when Thomas Thomson, a labourer, appealed against the sentence of twelve months’ imprisonment imposed upon him in the Police Court by Mr E. Page, S.M., on May 14. Thomson was charged that he wa s a rogue and vagabond, in that he had

been armed with offensive weapons; Ao wit, five nuts, bolts, and a ■large stone. • . -r The Assistant Crown Prosecutor outlined the events which took place oh' May 11, and the incident which led to the arrest of the appellant", A' Detective Kane said that he saw the

accused, Thomson in Vivian Street, on the afternoon of May 11, when’the meeting was held by the relief work strikers in the Trades Hal!. In addition to those in the hall there was a large crowd outside. He saw Thomson among the crowd, a large section of whom were hostile', to the police, Thomson was moving about from group to group, and was very active, About 4 p.m. the crowd commenced to move from the Trades Hall -to, tipper Cuba Street. During the march, Thomsoh was calling out loudly, and inviting everyone to follow. .-Special con-tabks were stationed at the junction of Vivian Street and Cuba Street, and on pa-sslrTg"”special constables, » Thomson called out: “There is going to be trouble, and then it will be ‘good night’ to- you jokers!” . Constable R. Hollis said that at 5.55 p.m. on May 11, he saw the accused in Cuba Street. Thomson appeared to be annoying pedestrians. He and another constable spoke to Thomson, and he heard something drop on the pavejinent. behind the accused, v He found 4his to be a large nut. He was then searched, and upon, him -was found a stone and a bolt about 6s. inches in length. Thomson made no'explanation, and was taken to Mount Cook Police Station, and was charged. When searched, a number of steel nuts were found in his pockets. He saw Thom-, Ron ' again after the ‘crowd had been dispersed from the section. He was ( rgising himself from the ground, ana .rubbing his back. Constable ‘McNurt ~corroborated, the evidence of Constable rjHplhs. When .arrested Thomson lent an impression that he had been drink<irig earlier in the' day. Thomas Thomson, relief worker, the, ■appellant, said that he wag 35 years' of age, and was born in England. He arrived in the Dominion when 1 1 gears' of aee. He had been on relief work for the past 18 months. He. was making a hand-barrow, and this was thereason why he had the bolts and nuts.' upon him when arrested, On the day ; of the march to Parliament he called at a shop to get some bolts and nuts. He had a number of drinks that day. He detailed his movements on the afternoon and the evening of .May 11, but said that his recollection of events was “a trifle- hazy.” The first thing he remembered was when he found himself lying on the ground in the section in Cuba Street. He had been hit., on the back. 1 - , \

Rev. F. M. Kempthorne, Vica r of St.: ; Mary’s Anglican Church, Karori, said he had known Thomson for two years, and had heard nothing against his character. Thomson had called upon him, seeking ’vork, and people he had worked for had asked for him again.

The case will be resumed to-morrow