AUCKLAND RIOTS

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXVIII, Issue 128, 25 May 1932, Page 5

AUCKLAND RIOTS

“THE SAFEST MAN’’

FIFTY WITNESSES FOR CROWN

(Per Press Associatib-i) AUCKLAND, Last Night.

Such good progress was made today with the hearing of evidence against the 14 men accused of taking part in the rioting in the city on the night of April 14, that when the Supreme Court adjourned for the day the Crown’s 50th witness was in the box. His cross-examination will be taken when the Court resumes tomorrow and it is understood the Crown will call only one further witness. The cases are being heard together before Mr. Justice Herdman and a jury. Considerable public interest continued to be evinced in the trial, there being a fairly large percentage of women among the crowd which filled the body of the court. It is expected the trial will last at least two more days. The bulk of the evidence was given by detectives and constables who described the rioting outside the Town Hall and the looting in Queen Street. An attempt by some of the unemployed in the procession to upset a taxicab was described.

Looting was going on wholesale and when a window was smashed the crowd would cheer, said a constable, in describing the scenes in Queen Street. .

Evidence that he had been called to the Royal garage in Park road about 8.40 on the night of the riot was given by Cyril Withell, taxi driver. He found that his fare had a bandaged head. When he was instructed to drive the man to the Town Hall witness said: “You don’t expect we to drive there do you?” The man replied: “I’m Jim Edwards. While I’m with you you are the safest man in Auckland.” Witness accepted that assurance and drove Edwards to the fringe of the crowd. At the Town hall Edwards addressed a man there by his Christian name and asked how things were going. Edwards said he would be back in about ten minutes. Witness said he then drove Edwards to the latter’s home in Manning Street. Edwards and his wife were then driven back to the Town Hall. Mrs. Edwards tried to dissuade Edwards from getting out of the taxicab as she thought there was danger of his being arrested. Edwards said he did not want to be : •ough i a jeoward. He s $ - said: “I’m not going intot the cooler to-night. I’ll get half a dozen men to picket my house. A megaphone was found in his cab after Edwards had alighted. The hearing will be continued to- ■■ ’ ■ ' ‘ ■' ; . < a., <•••-