GRIFFIN CAPTURED

Taranaki Daily News, 26 November 1934, Page 5

GRIFFIN CAPTURED

SYDNEY DOMAIN ARREST SHORT SPEECH IN PUBLIC EARLIER ANNOUNCEMENT HIS TASK ACCOMPLISHED By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright. Rec. 11.50 p.m. Sydney, Nov. 25. A man claiming to be Gerald Griffin, the New Zealander whom the police have been seeking after his defiance of the ban on his entry into Australia, was arrested in the Sydney domain this afternoon after he had made a short speech. The man announced previously that he would speak at the domain to-day, expecting he would be taken away by friends before the authorities could airrest him. “I am not here as a Communist,” he added, “but merely to represent the feeling of the people of New Zealand against war.” A man whom the police understand to be Griffin commenced to address a crowd in the afternoon. He had spoken for a few minutes when he was taken m charge by the police. There was only an average crowd in the domain ana apart from a little crowding and hooting the police had no difficulty in taking the man away. Three cheers for Griffin were lustily given. The man will be handed over to the Customs authorities. Speaking rapidly from the platform in the domain before his arrest, the man announced that he was Griffin, and denied allegations that he had been impersonated by someone else at various places, where he claimed he had personally appeared. He said he was speaking publicly to-day because his mission was he descended from the platform he was arrested. There was a short scuffle in which a constable was injured and was later treated at the hospital for facial abrasions. Griffin himself did not resist arrest. Four other men were arrested, one for inciting to resist arrest and assaulting the police, one for assaulting the police and behaving in -> riotous manner, and two for using insulting language. All were released on bail. Griffin was later charged at the Central Police Court with being a prohibited immigrant He was released on bail of £lOO.