THE DE GROOT CASE

Taranaki Daily News, 14 April 1932, Page 3

THE DE GROOT CASE

SYDNEY’S NEW GUARD

PREMEDITATED EXPLOIT.

STORY OF THE SEVERED RIBBON.

(N.Z. Herald Correspondent.) Sydney, April 7.

Some remarkable revelations concerning the doings of.the New Guard have been given in evidence during the hearino- of the charge against Captain de Groot, who was responsible for the sensational slashing of the ribbon at the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It is clear now that Captain de Grooms act was premeditated. All along it was stated on behalf of the New Guard that Mr. Lang would not open the bridge, but little notice was taken of these “threats.” . The charges against Captain de Groot were:—(l) Maliciously damaging a ribbon, the property of the New South Wales Government. (2) Behaving in an offensive manner; and (3) Using threatening words to Police-Inspector Robson, as follows: “I am a King’s officer; stand back; do not interfere with me.” The second charge was first dealt with. After describing the incident several police officers stated that they regarded the actions of Captain de Groot as offensive to them. Inspector Mackay said that he regarded the ribbon-slashing incident as “very serious,” considering the sacred nature of the ceremony. “For a man to use such a childish, trivial method to justify the statements of another man I think very, very wrong,” he said. ' t Captain de Groot, who pleaded not guilty, gave his evidence in a clear, incisive voice, and did not hesitate to admit 'at the outset that he slashed the ribbon. He would not admit that he behaved in an offensive manner, although what he did might have been offensive to Mr. Lang and his Communist friends. At this stage he was promptly told by the magistrate that political speeches or references would not be permitted. THE COURSE OF ACTION. An account of the events which preceded the slashing of the ribbon on the bridge was given by Captain de Groot. He said he left home early in the morning on the day of the ceremony and picked up a horse at Fort Macquarie in the city. The horse had an ordinary hunting saddle, so he fixed his sword to his Sam Browne belt. He was sitting on his horse in Macquarie Street when the military escort rode out from Government House. He took up a position not far behind the rear horseman of the guard and followed the escort to the bridge approach. When the escort halted he halted also and drew his sword from its scabbard for the first time that day to salute the Governor-General. Witness said he then rode out into the centre of the bridge approach be-, cause he wanted to find out where the ribbon was going to be. He rode out on the' right of the mounted police escort, but was separated from it by a cine-sound lorry. He found himself near where the ribbon was to be, and about ten minutes later the ribbon was stretched across. He heard all the speeches, and when “God Save the King” was played he was impressed by the ceremony until he saw hundreds ,of the occupants of the main official stand remaining sitting with their hats outtalking, laughing and smoking. It was then he determined to go on with his exploit. THREE CUTS AT THE RIBBON. Captain de Groot said he was so incensed by the collective insult to file King that owing to his own war service he felt he was a more suitable person to declare the bridge open than Mr. Lang. When he saw Mr. Lang step down preparatory to going across to cut the ribbon he spurted Ids horse forward and made an upward cut at the ribbon with his sword. The first cut did. not completely sever the ribbon, so he made a second cut and then a third cut and finally the ribbon parted. He had no intention of resisting arrest and held his sword in such a position that it would hurt nobody. The words he used when he cut the ribbon were: “On behalf of the decent and respectable citizens of New South Wales I hereby declare this bridge open.” In cross-examination Captain de Groot said he decided on his exploit on the Thursday before the opening ceremony and discussed his plans fully with the leader of the New Guard. The whole idea was kept secret and only a few of the leaders of the movement knew - of his intention.

Previously, said witness, he had been informed 'by the leader that a plan had been mapped out to have Mr. Lang arrested on a charge of fraud and coi - ruption, but witness replied: “I have a better way, that will cast ridicule on him, cause no injury to anybody and '■ make the whole world laugh.” He held that he would not be committing any offence if he slashed the ribbon, because no one was entitled to stretch any obstacle across a public road. If it was claimed 'by the authorities that the road was not a public place, he could not be charged with committing an offence. Finally the leader of the New Guard admitted that witness’ plan was the better. MAXIMUM FINE IMPOSED.

Witnesses for the defence said that there were many people in the official stand who did not stand or even remove their hats while the National Anthem was being played. Some of the women among the invited guests behaved in a manner disrespectful to the King and several witnesses said that they were incensed by this. The magistrate, in recording a conviction, said there was no doubt that de Groot intended to make little of the Premier of the State in the presence of the King’s representative. His actions were grossly offensive, provocative and clearly unlawful. There was evidence that spectators in the immediate vicinity of the scene resented what was done. No organisation had any right whatever to interrupt such proceedings. De Groot, and those associated with him, knew that perfectly well, and he did not credit for an instant that they believed they had a right to do what was done. The act might have led to disturbances, even riots, and, indeed, it seemed that de Groot would have been roughly handled by a section of the crowd had he not received police protection. Eor those reasons he imposed the maximum fine of £5.

The other two charges were dropped by the Crown and when de Groot left the court he said “he was satisfied with everything.” His sword and the other exhibits in the case were returned to him.