RIOT AFTERMATH

Northern Advocate, 3 May 1932, Page 2

RIOT AFTERMATH

.MAN WHO THREW' STONES. CONSTABLE STRUCK. STORY OF A STRUGGLE. (■Special to “Northern Advocate.”) AUCKLAND, This Day. One of the 1-1 men who were committed to the Supreme Court for trial on Saturday on a charge of taking part in a riot. Leo -Martinovich, appeared before Mr F. K. Hunt, S.M., at the Police Court yesterday on a charge of assaulting Constable Jones on April 1-1. .Martinovich pleaded not guilty. Constable Jones, who was on duty near the Town Hall on the night of the riot, said lie saw Martinovich in the front of a crowd in Grey Avenue. He threw a stone or brick which struck witness. Martinovich then ran away and witness chased and caught him. There was a struggle and Martinovich got away, but was quickly caught and arrested by witness, assisted by another constable, Martinovich was taken to the Town Hull. He struck Martinovich twice across the shoulders with his baton when he would not stop. At the watch house Martinovich admitted that he had thrown a couple of stones. One of accused’s coat pockets had dirt in it.

Counsel; Are you sure you have not made a mistake.’ —-Xo, I’m positive. After.he threw the stone at me, 1 immediately went for him, and he was never out of my sight. Another constable, who witnessed the; struggle and assisted in the arrest, gave evidence, I Mistake Asserted. Counsel submitted that Constable Jones had made an honest mistake. Grey Avenue was very dark on the night of the riot, and when a showei of stones were hurled at the police and the crowd ran, it could easily hwc happened that he had picked the wrong man. Martinovich was in constant employment, and bore an excellent character. Together with his sweetheart, Miss Ashton, and a married woman, Tie was on his way to the pictures, but when they all saw the procession going to the Town Hall, they went in to hear the speakers. When trouble arose in the hall Miss Ashton became hysterical, and asked him to go out and sec if it was safe enough for her to leave for home. Martinovich did so, and had only been in Grey Avenue a minute when, following a showcx of stones, the police made a baton charge and accused was struck twice and arrested. A constable got him by the coat and it i-ame oil’. The dirt would probably get in his pocket when the crowd walked over his coat on the street.

Accused gave evidence in accordanee with counsel’s statement, adding that lie did not belong to any political body or organisation. He denied making an admission at the watch house that he had thrown two stones.

Mavis Ashton gave evidence that she asked Martinovich to go outside and see if things were quiet, so that she could go home. She was afraid in the hall, as people were standing upon chairs and the place was in an uproar. The Crown Prosecutor; “Have you over taken part in processions?” — “Yes, ond* or two.” “Were you in the procession on Wednesday, the day before the riot ?' ’ —‘' Yes.” “You work during the day, and take a day off sometimes?” —“Yes, but Leo does not like me going in processions, but I'm interested.” “Do you read stuff about Russia?” —“ Ves, if it’s given to me.” “And you are sure that you all intended going to the pictures on the night of the riot?”—“Yes, but wo went to the Town Hall. I thought it would be a nice, enjoyable evening.” (Laughter.) Remand For Sentence.

Two young men both stated that they were in Grey Avenue and saw accused leave the hall. As soon as ho came outside there was a baton charge, and Martinovich, who did not throw any stones, was struck and arrested.

Mr Hunt (to one of tlie witnesses): “You had your eyes on him all the time and you say that he was arrest ed for doing nothing- at all?" — “Ves.”

“Did you take any steps by going to the police and telling them they had arrested an innocent man?”— “No.”

Accused’s sister, Mrs Tv. Phillips, said lie did not throw a stone. t-dic went to the police station the next day and inquired what chdrgOi her brother was arrested on. When she told a constable that he did not throw a stone, she was told to tell that store to the Court.

After two other witnesses had been called, the magistrate convicted Mar-

tinovich. It was a curious case, he said. Constable .Tones only made one arrest that night, and that was Mar tinovich. He saw Martinovich throw the stone which struck him, and even after his arrest Martinovich admitted throwing- two stones. Martinovich’s ease was a blank denial.

“It is strange that he admits leaving the hall after two ealls had been made for assistance, by someone who said that police were batoning men and arresting them outside,” added the magistrate. He remanded Martinovich until Mav ft for sentence.

FOUR WATCHES FOUND,

MAORI’S ADMISSION. GAOL FOR SIX MONTHS. (Special to “Northern Advocate.”) AUCKLAND, Monday. Arrested on Saturday on a charge of stealing four gold wristlet watches valued at £l4 on thcv night of the riot in Queen Street, Eangi Edward Te Aha, aged 22, appeared at the Police Court yesterday, when ho pleaded guilty. Detective Sergeant Kelly said that as the result of information received a detective interviewed accused, who said he found a watch in Victoria. Park. When his house was searched tho other watches were found. The numbers of all watches had been tiled off. On December .1 last, accused had been sentenced to two months’ imprisonment for the unlawful conversion of a motor car.

“He tells me that the-reason he filed the numbers off the watches was that he wanted to find out if they were real gold,” said counsel, who added that the Maori had been travelling for commission on behalf of a firm who bought gold. “To Aka conies from Hawera, wdiere his father is a big chief. He says that,he did not go home, as He felt too ashamed after serving the two months for taking the motor ear.” “Well, he won’t see the big chief for six months, anyway,” said Air F. K. Hunt, G.M., in consigning the Maori to prison for that period. PIPES IN POCKET. THREE MONTHS FOR. THEFT. (Special to “Northern Advocate.”! AUCKLAND, Monday. Described as a musician and labourer, Thomas King, aged HO, was arrested on Saturday by Detective Brady, charged with stealing three jiipcs worth 12/d, the property of persons unknown. King denied the charge when he appeared at the Police Court. Detective Brady .said accused had denied having any pipes, but when three new pipes were found in his hip pocket, he gave different explanations. “I won the pipes in a raffle in the hotel.” King told the magistrate. “Yon won’t give that evidence on oath?” asked the magistrate.

“Xo,” said King. “Well, I don’t believe you,” said the magistrate. King was convicted and sentenced to three months’ imprisonment. The police said he had five previous convictions for theft.