PUBLIC INTEREST

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21806, 22 May 1934, Page 11

PUBLIC INTEREST

CROWD NOT LARGE MANY WOMEN PRESENT LUNCH AND KNITTING WORK There was hardly the anticipated measure of curiosity oil the part of the Auckland public at the opening of the Bayly trial in the Supreme Court yesterday. The spectators in and around the Court could not at any time have numbered more than about 100. Men easily outnumbered the women, but the latter appeared to be more experienced campaigners, and arrived with lunch cases and the paraphernalia of knitting. The brief nature of the day s Court* proceedings seemed to cause them some disappointment. The first of the would-be spectators—a man —arrived shortly after eight o'clock, and the crowd grew slowly in size as small groups of men and women entered the grounds. There were sufficient police to handle a considerable number, but their task .was much lighter than that experienced at either the Mumi or Nurse Kerr trials. Indeed, larger crowds often souglit admission to the Police Court during the preliminary the charges against Bayly Under the direction of a police sergeant and constables, queues were formed shortly after 9.30, and the women were directed to the side entrance, giving access to the women s gallery, which was opened for the first time since the Munn case. At about 9.45 the doors were opened and, after listening to instructions from the sergeant in Law Court etiquette regarding the removal of hats, the keeping of silence and the' necessity of standing when the Judge entered, the spectators were admitted. The public space at the back of the Court was soon filled, but there were several vacant seats in the women's gallery. One of its occupants had with her a child hardly more than an infant in arms. Shortly after the spectators had been admitted the police van arrived, and a, score or so people who had remained outside the building made a frantic rush to see the accused man, who was accompanied by warders, enter the Court through a back door. Othei people arrived later, and most of them were admitted after the jury had been empanelled and waiting juri'men had left the Court. The spectators were quite orderly, and the only occasion when any of them had to bo restrained was when the accused entered the dock. Several women, anxiously craning over the rail of tlio gallery, were in danger of falling and Avere moved back by constables. FARMS AT RITAWARO % INSPECTION BY JURY The jury was taken yesterday to the Lakey and Bayly farms at lluawaro. An early lunch was provided for them at their hotel und special cars were made available for the journey. An inspection was made of both properties and they returned tc the city at 6.45 p.m. to find dinner awaiting them. Later they visited the Majestic Theatre.