SEQUEL TO RIOTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21164, 22 April 1932, Page 11

SEQUEL TO RIOTING.

TWO MEN SENT TO PRISON.

INCITEMENT AND THEFT.

ACCUSEb CRYING IN COURT.

Three more prosecutions were heard in the Police Court yesterday in connection with last week's disturbances in city streets.

A plea of not guilty was entered by Albert Edward Ottley, aged 33, an English seaman, when charged with inciting lawlessness. Throughout the proceedings he cried like a child and frequently interrupted witnesses. Constable Wood, of Takapuna, said that last Friday night, when serious rioting was in progress at tho intersection of Karangahape Road and Pitt Street, accused, who was in tho front row of the angry crowd, frequently hooted and abused the police. Witness saw him accost Sergeant Hammond, who was in plain clothes, and hold him by the arm. Although accused was not seen to throw any stones, his conduct was such that others were incited to behave lawlessly. Accused did not leave Newton and return to his home in Takapuna when advised to do so by witness. "When I arrested accused at Takapuna on Wednesday," added witness, "he told me that I had tho dirtiest, lying mouth anybody ever had. He also made other offensive, remarks." " Hooting and Yelling." "When I first saw accused he was hooting and yelling at the specials," said Sergeant Hammond. "Ho caught hold of my arm and shouted, 'Don't hit him. Don't hit him.' I was not going to hit anybody and do not know what he meant. His general behaviour was inciting." Accused, in evidence, said he was a married man with two children. He was unemployed. On Friday night ho went to Newton to do some shopping and was trying to make his way through the crowd on his way home when he was spoken to by Constable Wood. Witness did not speak a single word. The Magistrate, Mr. F. K. Hunt (to accused): You say you are a quiet man, and yet these constables make allegations against you. "He talks too much; that is his trouble." remarked a solicitor, who said he was acquainted with accused. "I think his bark is worse than his bite." "There may not be much harm in him, but when there are a hundred or so of these men together they create a disturbance," said the magistrate, in passing sentence of one month's imprisonment. Articles Found in Room. Two charges of theft from Queen Street shops during tho riot on April 14 were denied by a Tahitian labourer, Leon Moana, alias Moano, aged 38. The articles alleged to have been stolen were two shaving brushes and a cigarette case, of a total value of £1 Is 6d, tho property of William George Ivil, tobacconist, and a watch, valued at 7s 6d, the property of some person or persons unknown. Detective Hayes said that, acting on information received, lie visited a city apartment occupied by accused and found the articles in question in accused's bedroom. The brushes and cigarette case were identified as having come from Mr. Ivil's shop, although accused maintained that be had bought them in Hamilton some time ago. Accused claimed to have obtained the watch from a Wellington firm in exchange for cigarette coupons, but inquiries made revealed that this was not correct. Accused had admitted to the poiice that he had been in Queen Street on tho night of the riot. Accused was sent to prison for three months on one chargo and convicted and discharged on tho other count. Theft o 1 a Hat. A denial that he had stolen a hat, valued at 12s 6d, the property of some person or persons unknown, was made by Howard Ernest Gargan, aged 22. Detective Sneddon said he interviewed accused in respect of the ownership of a hat which he had in his possession. Accused admitted the hat was not his and that he had made no attempt to find the owner. In a written explanation made to witness accused said he found the hat in Queen Street during the rioting. He had not deliberately stolen it. Ho later volunteered for service as a special constable, but did not report, having found the hat. Replying to counsel witness said accused belonged to a respectable family. There was no suggestion that he. had taken part in the rioting. The magistrate, Mr. F. K. Hunt, convicted Gargan and remanded him in custody until Thursday.