CITY RIOT SEQUEL

Waipa Post, Volume 45, Issue 3210, 30 July 1932, Page 4

CITY RIOT SEQUEL

CHARGE AGAINST EDWARDS

DISAGREEMENT OF JURY.

(By Telegraph. Press Association.) AUCKLAND, this day. The trial ot james nenry Edwards, aged 4u, canvasser, on a charge ox tuning part in a rioc in Queen Street on April 14 was concluded beiore Mr Justice Herdman in tne Supreme Court last evening. Alter a retirement of lour hours, the jury failed to reach an agreement and a new trial was ordered.

Lengthy eviuence was heard, that for the delence tending to show that Edwards made every reasonable effort to control the crowd and preserve law and order.

In the summing-up His Honor pointed out that the most dangerous type in the community might be. not the man who was openly violent, but the man who was fluent with his tongue, and, perhaps, saturated with undesirable literature, and who influenced his fellows to take part in such proceedings as those of April 14. There was ample evidence that Edwards was associated with the procession that night and ample evidence that the rioting was not a sudden explosion, but premeditated. In such circumstances as arose the police were fully justified in using their batons, and if Edwards did. as he said he did, urge these people to take the batons from the police, "and use no violence," then he was undoubtedly encouraging a riot. What right had he, when the police were discharging their duty, to encourage his men to seize ther batons? ,

When the jury rturned to announce a disagreement the Crown Prosecutor moved for a new trial. This was ordered by His Honor, who fixed Monday as a tentative date. Bail for accused was renewed.