CHARGE OF OBSTRUCTING THE FOOTPATHS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11535, 21 November 1900, Page 5

CHARGE OF OBSTRUCTING THE FOOTPATHS.

The hearing of the two charges of causing a crowd to collect in Queen-street, so as to impede passers by, against William Richardson, temperance lecturer, was continued yesterday. Mr. Cotter conducted the prosecution, and Mr. Thoo. Cooper appeared for the accused. Mr. Coopc. called two further witnesses for the defence, who denied that there was any obstruction caused, and further said that the crowd collected under the shop verandahs to shelter from the rain. The accused gave evidence, and said that there was no obstruction, and that he had been warned of this sort of "persecution" by the police, and had watched that no obstruction should occur. His Worship: "I cannot allow you to make observations of this kind." Continuing, the accused said tho meeting of the 26th was much larger than the sth, owing to a drunken man causing annoyance, and who was followed by boys, and there might have been a temporary obstruction caused by the man himself. Cross-examined by Mr. Cotter: He had already been prosecuted and fined for similar offences. He denied having said on the following Sunday that ho intended to go into Queen-street again, and give the State a chance of making another £5. Constable Carroll had browbeaten reputable citizens of Auckland because they would not give evidence against him and secure a conviction. On being further pressed, witness gave the name of Mr. Foley as being the only citizen who had been browbeaten. Witness had no doubt that all the witnesses for the prosecution were lying when they stated that the sth was a fine day. Mr. Cotter addressed the Court as to tho construction of the by-law, stating that Mr. Cooper's contention was absurd. His Worship: " Perhaps the by-law is absurd." His Worship said that what he had to decide was the meaning of the words in the by-law "impede passers-by." There was no doubt from the evidence that onehalf of the street was blocked, and the other clear, and he would give his decision in Writing on Tuesday next.