CITY RIOT RECALLED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21247, 29 July 1932, Page 11

CITY RIOT RECALLED

SUPREME COURT SEQUEL / CHARGE AGAINST EDWARDS POLICE DESCRIBE INCIDENTS MANY /WITNESSES HEARD Charged with taking part in a riot in Queen Street/on April 14, James Henry Edwards stood trial before Mr. Justice lferdman and a jury in the Supreme Court yesterday The story of the rioting was retold by many Crown witnesses, mostly members of the police force, throughout the afternooy and evening. Challenges' were numerous and it took a considerable time to empanel the jury. His Honor took an early opportunity of cotiiying the jury that he regarded the case of some importance and ho did not propose to allqiw the jury to separate. The Crown Prosecutor described the riot in the city on the night of April 14. To tako part in a riot had .always been looked upon as a very grave offence. It was clear that this affray did not occur ou the spur of the moment, because afterwards there were found such murderous and carefully-prepared weapons as lay on the table of-:the Court. The Crown Prosecutor said it was suggested that Edwards was the director-in-chief of the unemployed at the time when the crowd attempted to break into the Town Hall and furiously attacked the police. It was/clear that Edwards was in the thick of the thing, inciting the turbulent mass of people. Poles Used on Police Describing the riot, James Brown, salesman, said the Post and Telegraph people, making the first part of the procession, got into the Town Hall, and the unemployed procession swung round into Grey's Avenue. A rush started for the Town Hall doors, and banner poles were used on the police. He saw a policeman jumped oa from behind, thrown down and kicked. He thought there were about 15,000 people assembled. He saw Edwards marshalling th» procession. Witness said he did not see Edwards holding his hands up as if trying to quieten the procession. Evidence that he had seen' Edwards on the parapet of the Town Hall addressing the crowd was given by Constable J. A. Allen. Edwards would call out, "Shall we go to slave camps?" "Shall we starve?" "Shall we fight?" and the . crowd would answer. Edwards told them to rush the Town Hall, and if the police interfered ttf take their batons from them. This was followed by a fresh outbreak of rioting. In cross-examination witness said there was no blood to be seen on Edwards when he was on the balustrade. A Man With Megaphone Constable G. H. Graham said he saw • man with/ a megaphone on the parapet . of the Town' Hall. After this man had spoken tho crowd surged round to the doors of the Town Hall Detective F. J. Brady said he had heard Edwards shouting catchwords through a megaphone as the procession moved up Qufeen Street. Constable G Edwards said the accused led a crowd round to the main entrance of the Town Hall,-and he heard Edwards gay, "Get' fount* them, boys, and take their batons off them." The police had not then shown their batons. Constable J. Norton also said he had gten Edwards coming up to the Town Hali doors with a crowd just before the doors were shut and the attack started. Evidence tl)at he had heard Edwards calling out slogans as the procession moved up Queen Street and had seen him leading the crowd at the Town Hall was given by Constable R- H. T. Huckstep. Constable Hendren said he saw Ed- ! wards with a megaphone in front of the crowd at the Town Hall. Edwards said, "Let us crowd round the police and tako their batons off them. They have shown us violence, so we'll —" At that point in his speech he was batoned by a police officer. L?>er Edwards was waiving his arms, and calling out, "Come on boys. Witness was told that a mate of his was down, and he/ran across, to_ see Edwards standing over a constable with a piece of timber in hi 3 hand. "I struck Edwards with a baton and tried to drag the constable away," said witness. "Other members of the force took the constable away. I attempted to go after Edwards and arrest him, but I was knocked down myself. I saw no more of him that night. Taxi Driver's Evidence Counsel for Accused: You are the only constable who has suggested that Edwards used a baton that night ? Wit ijess: I believe that is so. Witness said it was Sergeant Brenchlcy •who struck Edwards first. The words "Get round them, tako the batons off them and then deal with them," were attributed to Edwards by Constable F. C. Solly. He said the rush up Airedale Street to secure pickets from a fence followed immediately. Constable H A. Wilson said ho had seen Edwards step out from the crowd into a space that had been cleared, and shout "They won't let us in, so we'll " A rush on the doors followed. Another constable who to seeing Edwards in front of the lown Hall was Constable E. W. Mahood He stated that after Edwards said ii they do that again get round them, boys, an< take their batons off them, the crowd renewed its attack on the police. Constable Mackrell said he had heard Edwards addressing the crowd from the parapet, after which violence broke out Bg A in taxi driver, C. V. Withell said a man with his head swathed in bandages met him near the hospital on the nig of the riot. When witness objected to driving him to the Town Hall, the man said: "I'm Jirn Edwards. While I am in this car vou are the safest man m Auckland." After Edwards had left the car a megaphone was found in it. Twen'v-five witnesses for the Crown had been heard when the ense was adjourned until this morning.