AUCKLAND RIOTS
SUPREME COURT PROCEEDINGS JUDGE’S COMMENTS TO GRAND JURY - • ■ ;ti > 11 j ;• (By Telegraph—Press Association) AUCKLAND, 'This Day. In his charge to the grand jury at the Supreme Court to-day Mr Justice Smith referred to fourteen persons charged with taking part in an unlawful assembly. “We are not concerned in this Court with the underlying causes of the riot,” said his Honour. “'The causes may be perfectly lawful, but what you have to consider is the assembly and,its results.” After defining an unlawful assembly, his Honour said that all the grand jury was concerned with was the conduct of rioters acting with a common purpose at some time during the assembly. To assemble unlawfully for any common purpose was sufficient, and in the cases before the Court the purpose was common enough. There was evidence of a procession to the Town Hall, of its attitude, of someone crying: “Shall we fight?” and the answer: “Yes.” There was ample evidence of fear felt by people in the neighbourhood. The jury would have no difficulty in finding a prima facie case.
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Bibliographic details
Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 3 May 1932, Page 5
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180AUCKLAND RIOTS Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 3 May 1932, Page 5
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