COMMUNIST CHARGED.

Waikato Times, Volume 111, Issue 18661, 13 June 1932, Page 8

COMMUNIST CHARGED.

AUCKLAND RIOT SEQUEL. EDWARDS BEFORE THE COURT. ALLEGED INCITING LAWLESSNESS. I AUCKLAND, Monday. ] The hearing of the case of James Henry- Edwards, a Communist leader, charged with inciting lawlessness on the night of the riot of April 14, was : continued. I In opening the 'defence counsel said Edwards had been a marked man for years. He was a labour agitator, and had been trying to get better treatment for the unemployed. It was significant that a few days after the riot Archbishop Averill and other high' church dignitaries had formed a -committee to investigate camp conditions and that those conditions had somewhat Improved. Counsel proceeded to comment on the discrepancies in the evidence of the police witnesses. He said much had been made of the words used by Edwards in the procession, “Shall we fight?” That was merely a slogan, and was not meant physically. There were a number of criminals in the crowd, carrying missiles, hut this was quite unknown to Edwards. When facing the crowd -and with both arms up counselling the -crowd, ‘‘For God’s sake, go back,” Edwards was struck by a baton. He then -mounted a balustrade and tried to move the crowd away from the main door. He then left for the hospital. It was not correct that he was batoned twice. Giving evidence, Edwards said that he arrived in New Zealand before the war, and he earned his living by putting up tea. He described the procession preceding the riot, and -said that When ce found Itheire |was a scuffle at the main -doors of the Town Hall he decided to try to get his men away from there and to assemble them in front of the balustrade to -hold an orderly meeting. Before he had time to say anything he got a -crack from -behind and fe11.... A woman appealed to him to do something, saying that the crowd had gone mad- He was helped on to the balustrade where he told the crowd that the police had started the trouble. He counselled them to crowd round the police but not to use violence. His words were: “If there Is to be any violence let It come from them. If they orowd round you take thqlr batons off them, but don’t uso them.’’ Two ambulance men then took him away. Cross-examined, witness -said that •though he was a Communist he was .not a leader. He left the hospital because he realised that on such occasions the leaders were always arrested. He wanted it to be the bigdemonstration in Auckland, but hooligans spoilt it. Supporting evidence is being heard. Three Months’ Imprisonment. Edwards was convicted on the charge of inciting and sentenced to three months’ Imprisonment. Security for appeal was lodged. The 'hearing of a charge of participating In a riot is proceeding.