WAIHI DAY BY DAY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 80, 27 November 1912, Page 2

WAIHI DAY BY DAY.

CASES IN COURT

(Per Press Association.)

Wailii, November 26. In the Magistrate’s Court this morning, before Mr Burgess, SAL, a number of charges were dealt with. The cases were the sequel to the disturbances on Saturday night and the following Monday and Tuesday. Mr Cotter, K.C., appeared for the, Arbitration workers, and Mr J. Lnndon for the Federationists, and Mr Mays, acting for the Crown Prosecutor, appeared for the police. Henry Gray and Henry Boston k were charged with assaulting Kennedy, acting-president of the Miners’ Union. Mr Mays said that the point of the alleged assault was typical of the other cases. He ■briefly recounted the incidents leading to the alleged assault. The police were being vilified a good deal. Whenever the police say an assault they at once interfered, but on Monday morning, when a disturbance arose, it was impossible for the police to follow all the scattering individuals, who ran in different directions. They particularly wished.to refute the diabolical statements made by the Federationists as to the condition of things in Wailn. The affair had been magnified into a riot, whereas it was nothing more than a series of small lights. Inc fighters were dispersed, and there was a good deal of chasing and hunting about. The evidence would show how far the Federationists had brought the trouble on themselves. He would call Mr Kennedy, and though be was his own witness, and had been saying a good deal about, what had happened, witness would have ample opportunity to state his views. He would be made to refute the wild statements lie bad been making outside that _ the police did not afford him protection. Mr Kennedy was then called to give evidence. Ho said that on the morning of the shooting be took refuge in Thompson’s house. Two con stabler on each side and two behind him' escorted him to the railway station. He

>was assaulted from behind by a heavy blow and on the back with fists, but was unable to identify his assailant. When lie got to the police station the police made a passageway lor him. That was the only assault made on him. Cross-examined by Mr Cotter, Kennedy said that none of his fellowunionists would return to work with members of the Engine-drivers ’Union. He was not aware that the unionists had offered violence to the- enginedrivers. , Many facts were adduced, disposing nf allegations distributed by the i'cderationists, and quite the most important was an admission by Air Kennedy acting-president of the Miners Union, to the effect that he was not in a position to produce any evidence justifying a public enquiry or a Royal (Commission, despite the statement made by him to the Federation s official organ. The evidence indicated that he was not prepared to make any direct charge against either the police or the ArbitrationistsKennedy, continuing, said that ho had not power to instruct the men to cease following and annoying. He believed that the conduct of his fellow unionists was objectionable to the persons followed. As far as he saw, only reasonable tactics were used to prevent the men going to work. He understood that the Arbitrationists were absolutely prevented from going to work, in the ordinary way owing to the conduct of the Federationists. He had heard the terms “scab”, and “traitor 'to your class ” but had not hoard such terms as “rotten scabs, hi thy scabs,” ‘/cancerous scabs, rotten dirty scabs,” “crawling scabs, “Scoundrels,” “bastards,” etc. He did not know' that as a .result nf the objectionable conduct of the federationists in two houses of the workers policemen wore stationed all night. Ho did not know that a constable had to bo stationed in Gray’s house for five clays, nor at the homes of other workers. He would swear he was not present at Gray’s house when there wore 400 people yelling like lunatics. Ho had' heard of egg-throwing and other objectionable practices by the Federationists'. He believed that eggs were thrown by the people on ms side. He had come to the conclusion that such conduct was wrong. He once thought that he would sooner die than seek police protection. That was when the Federationists were the bosses. He did not care what anyone said to him, so long as violence w r as not offered. He would mind it a person in the street called out, “iou married a prostitute,” but there was a civil remedy in such cases. He knew MacWiliiams, the bailiff of the Court. The latter made a complaint to the Union in regard to being annoyed. MacWiliiams, as bailiff of the Court, had nothing to do with the Arbitrationists and Federationists. It was the latter section who made the disturbances at MacWiliiams. The Federationists went to the house of MacWiliiams to insult and annoy the inhabitants therein, because Mr. and Mrs. Mac Williams sympathised’ with the Arbitrationists. MacWiliiams was , ill at the time. He understood that Mrs. MacWiliiams came odt of her house and “booed” some Federationists, and the latter retaliated. He considered it was a trivial matter. Ho did not consider that a man’s life was a trivial matter. The committee had got complaints from the doctor and ’Mrs. MacWiliiams, and the matter was placed in the hands of one of their members to investigate, but he himself did not take any steps, as lie had more important business on hand at die moment. A man’s health (icing jeopardised and a man’s house being pelted with rotten eggs may not be a trivial matter. Other matters he had to attend to were of more importance than to take steps to prevent these irregnalities. He could not say that a notice had been served on tradesmen not to serve certain people with goods. He made, certain statements in Wellington which were published in the •Maorikmd Worker.’ _ _ These statements were, in his opinion, true. In regard to his allegation that a number of the men employed in the mine, mi side a few. union men, were “toughs” and “hooligans” from the cities, he said 'he had come to this conclusion because of their subsequent jehaviour. He would swear that men were smuggled into Wailii with the police and the companies’ connivance. In regard to Ins statement that the events of Saturday, Monday, and Tuesday last were undoubtedly systematically planned by the Government, and carried ♦into effect by the police, he said that ho had every reason to believe that these stateiments were correct. He did not see the (alleged assault on Conrick, but lie had ■ been informed by Conrick himself. In regard to his allegations that the pullice used riding whips and ■•struck unionists down, ho saw these acts himself. He charged the police with instigating and carrying out assaults on innocent Federationists. He had a strong feeling against the poiive ever since the police came to Wailii and prevented the Federationists having ■ all their own way with the Arbitration ists. The moaning of ibc term “thug,” ■according to witness, was identical with that-of “seal).”

in connection with the alleged assault by Commissioner Cullen oi Noakos, witness said that lie had repeated it because Noakos told him He admitted that Commissioner Culiei had denied the allegation in the pres

euee of Noakos. He believed that murder had been done by the “thugs” and police. Frederick Evans had been killed by a policeman’s baton. By the evidence that came out it v. as clear that Evans had been struck with the baton, and the evidence had also shown that Evans had fired a revolver at I he constable before the latter struck him. He would still call it murder. In regard co other statements that men were driven to; the bins]), women outraged, and children violently treated, he said that he. did not know nf a single infill nee of a

woman being outraged nor el chimren being hurt. The violence used was that of had words. There wan not ’. single case of outrage or attempted

outrage on women. In regard to violence to children, lie knew a case where the children of one Thomas (Keen were flogged on the legs black and blue. This statement was made in a letter to the editor of the ‘Maoriland Worker.’ He had not made any investigation into this allegation. The lawless law prevailed before the recent trouble. In his opinion, “thuggery,” or, in other words, “scabbery,” had for the time being triumphed, backed by Government corruption. Whatever was done by the Government to prevent the Union from getting what they, in their opinion, were entitled to, constituted Government corruption. In regard to his allegation of police criminality he said that they looked on while assaults were being committed. He admitted that summonses had since been issued against these men, but still he believed that the police were criminals. After hearing further evidence the case was adjourned till to-morrow.