CHARGE OF INCITING RIOT

Taranaki Daily News, 10 June 1932, Page 9

CHARGE OF INCITING RIOT

JAMES EDWARDS IN COURT ' 1——•!;. EVIDENCE FOR THE POLICE. AUCKLAND TOWN HALL SCENE. ADJOURNMENT of the hearing. ■ By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. Janies Henry Edwards, aged 40, canvasser and a . leading Communist in Auckland, appeared in the Police Court to-day on charges of inciting lawlessness on April 14, and of participating in the riot.,

The Crown Prosecutor conducted the i case and Edwards was represented by a prominent barrister. The magistrate, Mr. F. K, Hunt, rejected an application that the first charge, which is a summary one, should be def erred .until Edwards had been tried in the Supreme Court on the other. Evidence was given that when part of the procession reached the Town Hall Edwards was seen in possession of a megaphone and was heard to say, “Get round them, boys, and take their batons off them.” A rush was then made against the police. ' j Cross-examined, the witness, a constable, said he did not see Edwards trying to check the crowd or hear him counselling them against violence. Another constable said that Edwards in addressing the crowd to take the batons from the police added: “They have shown us - violence, so we will clash.” That was as far as he got before he was struck down by a police baton.

Evidence on •< similar lines was given ■by other policemen. Constable Allen said that Edwards had previously been speaking from; the balustrade of the Town Hall and working the crowd into » frenzy. On account of the illness of a police witness the hearing of the case was adjourned until Monday, when the indictable charge also will be.heard.