AUCKLAND RIOT

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17844, 29 July 1932, Page 9

AUCKLAND RIOT

TRIAL OF EDWARDS ACCUSED GIVES EVIDENCE (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, this day. The trial of James Henry Edwards on a, charge of taking part in a riul on April 14 was continued in the Supreme Court to-day. The jurymen were kept together last night. About 30 witnesses, mostly policemen, gave evidence for the Crown, their evidence closely following that given in the Lower Court and in other riot eases. Deteetivc-Sergyaiit Doyle said he had previous experience of riots, including the Lloyd George riot in Birginmham, but never saw a. more disorderly crowd than the one outside the Town Hall. Counsel for the defence said the Crown by skilfully presenting the evidence had colored the ease against Edwards. Many weapons had been exhibited in court, but no evidence had been given that Edwards used any of them. The police made mistakes like other people and ho intended to call evidence which would entirely disagree with lmuli of the police testimony.

Edwards, wiio said lie was married with eight children, said that when walking in the procession to the Town Hall he called our “the usual working class slogans,” namely, “Shall we go into slave camps or shall we fight for our wives and kids?” He had no intention of creating trouble. At tho start of the riot lie saw the crowd outside tho main door break into a semi-circlo and (lie police driving them back with batons, lie ran along intending to call upon the crowd to give no trouble, but was struck down.

Cross-examined, accused said lie had been a, member of the Communist Daily for about a year and gave three addresses. The Unemployment Workers’ Movement regarded him as a. leader. The Labor Defence League was composed of men iu all walks of life. The league was for the legal and financial protection of “men in an unfortunate position like myself.” Accused, whim asked why ho went into hiding after til© riot, said he knew from experience that in times of trouble the police always looked for those they considered tho leaders, particularly if they happened to be Communists. The Crown Prosecutor: But you had done, nothing, you say? Accused: That is so, but I belonged to a party not very popular with (lie police just then. Accused admitted telling the crowd that if they wero attacked they should crowd round the police and take their batons from them. Other witnesses for the defenco were then called.