Waihi Whispers

Maoriland Worker, Volume 5, Issue 178, 1 July 1914, Page 2

Waihi Whispers

On 16th June, G. Crosby and C 0.,. were charged with a breach of the Licensing Act, whereby a case of whisky, was consigned to Waihi on the lGth May, and the, required notification was uot received at the Waihi Court till some days afterwards. The case was adjourned pending fur-, cher enquiries. The next case was that between •Shorty"' Henih and E. Dye and others. Edwin Heath was charged with 'threatening behaviour, whereby a j breach of the peace was occasioned. | He was also chargud with using insulting words whereby a breach of the peace was occasioned. Heath pleaded not guilty. Mr. W. M. Jackson appeared for the defendant, and Serdor-Sergeant Wohlman prosecuted. ■'■'■■' The Latter gave an outline of the circumstances. He' said it was on the night of ; the Mayoral election, and it arose out of the bitter feeling 'occasioned by th© strike,- which, though happily dying out, still broke, out occasionally, I'h.e evidence would show that the incident had it? serioiis side, as revolvers were produced and the. use of them threatened. ! . Edward .Dye stated that he-was. a I miner. After Mr. Power's speech feel- ' ing ran high, and he had been warned '.to look for trouble. He, accompanj ied by Williams and others, later in. 'the evening; went down past the-Cen-I tral Hotel. There was a group of men j on >the hotel verandnh., Heath called lout, "Hello, Socialist." "To this witness made no reply. Then Heath said,. "Hello, Reel Fed." No reply was made, j to this. Witness and party had by this time got past the hotel, but when : some..distance, further on, Heath and three others ca'ni'e up behind -them.. Heath said,. "We've conic up -to give you Federation what yoxi're' lookI ing for." His (witness's companion ! "Williams) said, "What's the game?"----i Heath replied that the- place was getting with Federatiohists; and that | they would have to bo cleared out again.. After further personalities witness asked wjio. he had done. '■ Heath. j replied/ "You're' the worst Red jFed.'ih'tHe town, and you'll have to i go." After "further abu?<? one'of the- • irieh rushed at Banks (a companion of : | witness's), when the latter-hit out and | struck his assailant! Banks was then | attacked by si man with a bottle. Banks ! dlicked his h&id jiVst 'in. time to avoid j a'biqw from the'bolftle, and at the same j time tho bottle flew from the man's hand. At that stage Williams produced a revolver and threatened the man who, had used the bottle. Heath Said that they were not looking for anything like that—they wanted a fair go. One of Heath'- 1 party then said "I've _ot one of those. Come on, Williams, and I'll give you a go." , Several independent witnesses were called, who all testified to the use of bad language. W. C. Darlingioa (carter) said he was in Barry Road on the night of the incident in question. He was with Radford and Anderson, residents of the East End, nnd they were on their way to their homes. Dye and party passed, and following behind tltem were four men. He recognised Hoath as one of them. Shortly afterwards he heard loud talking. The only intelligible expression he heard was "You , you'll have to get out of this." Later he heard Dye say: "Com* along, let v< get home," and

then he heard the rra*h of a breaking bottle. It was very dark, and il was difficult to sec what was going on. .Thomas Radford, who was. in corci; pany wii;li the previous witness, said he heard a terrible'lot 'of bad language. He also heard Dye say, "You're even throwing bottles at us." Tlio witnesses Williams and Banks had unfortunately left the district, as iJss.y .were victimised and unable to get work. ■ pounsolvfor .the defence declared they ' had cleared, out because they knew they were -guilty. ; Heath, swore. that rhe and pWty" only "met" '.Dye anil paity-;in Barry road by accident, and v.ere ; "not following .them... - ..-;.. , The^MiigisVrate" diSUiissed- tho mation in both cased, and thus one more coercive act was registered against strikers. He said that there was no evidence to show that this behaviour caused n breach of the peace. It seemed to him that the trouble be[gani after tlio first blow had been ■ --truck:. ~ After this tho commotion foul language, the alleged throwing of:bottles and* the presentation of a revolver. The evidence was contradictory. The bad language was I usecV he had no doubt. He thought it was a pity that men should indulgein that kind of thing, and with all sensijble men bitter expressions of feeliing should die a natural death. He urged that,men should behave in a' - more manly $_y, and cease to. throw taunts at each other. The Arbitrationists were 1 on' the 'winning side, and they should fact more -nobly/ ' •' ; . v v "'- ;