FAMILY IN COURT

Chronicle (Levin), 10 September 1946, Page 7

FAMILY IN COURT

CHABGE OF OBSTRUCTION CARRIED POSTERS IN STREET WELLINGTON, Sept. 9. Oue charge of obstructing the poJice, one charge of hindering the policeptwo charges of obstructing the footpath, and one charge of obstructing the roadway were preferred in the Magistrate's Oourt yesterday afternoon against David Alexander, wharf labourer, 6(3; his wife, Eilen Alexander, 51; and his daugliter, Patricia JUary Alexander, 24. Evidcnco wus giveu that the accused had for some weeks stood outside tlie Evening Post building in Willis Street, carryiug posters "whicli had attracted large crowds and which had resulted in police having to be detuiled for control dutv. The accused had refused to move on when requested. The accused pleaded not guilty, and Sub-lnspector W. Bickerdike, who prosecuted, called as Llie first police witness Sergeant 0. Goorge, who stated that on August 23 the accused were displaying a poster outside The I'ost. They were obstructing the footpath. ' ' Eyewash, ' ' said Alexander. He launched into a speecli of protest, in which his wife and daugliter joined. At teinpts to quieteu hiin failed, and tlie Alagistrate said that if there was any iaore bother the accused would be dealt .with une at a tiiue. "He's telling lies, " said Alexander. He pointed at the Alagistrate and said: "You're not going to convict ua on lies." " We want to be fair to you and give you every upportnnity, " said the ALagistrate. " A lot of fairness , we '11 get froni you," replied Alexander. "You will have an opportunitv of stating your case. We want to hear the police ease lirst and tlien you will have tlie opportunitv to state your own derence," said the Magistrate. " We '11 have the last say," said Alexander. Bergeant George said that he warned tho'aeeused that they were obstructing the l'ootpath and wou.d have to move. Alexander: A lie. Tlie accused refused to move aud contiuued to stand on the edge of the foot patli, continued the witness. He spoke on a number of oecasions to the accused asking thein to iuovc. There was a crowd around tlie accused, continued the sergeant. "llow many?" asked Mr. Bickerdike. "Two hundred, " interrupted Mrs. Alexander. ''About 1 ('0, ' ' said Pergeant George. "1 can't help it if I'm jiopular, " said Mrs. Alexander. Tlie sergeant started again with his I evidenee, but the interruptions by tlie accused continued. "If you are going to interrupt " !>egan the Magistrate. "You cau do what you like, " said Alexander. • ' Wliy dou 't you ask us wliy we were protesting?" asked Ylrs. Alexander. The tliree accused then began talking at once. Attempts to quieten them failed and at the Magistrate's request tlie two women were taken into an adjoining room and the hearing against Alexander ulone was continued. Asked if he would like to make a stateiuent, Alexander began, "Jn the lirst place it was on May 27" — he paused and, observing that the Magistrate was wriling dowu notes on tlie tuidence — "Have you got that? Tliis •s leading up to it. " He told tlie (.'ourt that on May 27 two deteetives had called at his home ■'>lii!(» lie was at work. They had called again on June 1 and the accused had

gone to the detective oilice at tlie Cen- • tral Station, where he was questioned !' regarding an alleged offence coueerning i a little girl. He was later taken home by police car and he told his wife oi the ; matter. She was upset and they saw various lawyers regarding a j>ossible case against the deteetives. The lawyers said they could do nothing. "We (ie'cided to get placards and be our own lawyers, " Alexander continued. He added that his daugliter had been persecuted by the Governmeitt. His wife did not want to go on the street with Lhe placards, "but we dceided that if we didn't get it straightened out we were iinished. " Tlie Magistrate tried to intervene. "We dou 't want to be unkind , " he j began. ! Alexander: There is nothing else but ■ unkindness; nothing else but persecu tion of tlie Alexander family. This isi too big a job for you, roaybe. This should be in the fSupreihe Court. The: wrong man 's in the box. Eraser should j be in the box, not me. hliinilar evidenee for the prosecution ] was given when Alrs. Alexander entered the box. "I didn't speak to the sergeant or constable at all," she said. "1 didn't talce any notice of what was said to my husband. I was inspired by my work. I must liave been excited. I haven't been in good health, and that's the trutli." Aliss Alexander said that at no timcj were tliey asked to leave i»y Sergeant j George. "Once or twice he eamc up Lo us and inude a lauie statemoot tliat \ye ought to go home, ' ' she added. "Is it any use asking you to abstain from doing tliis?" asked the Atagistrate. "We want juslice, " AIIss Alexander replied. "We don't want to se-e you get into any further trouble," said the Alagistrate. "Oan I take it that you will take no further part in this matter?" "We are pressing for- justiec, " she replied. . it was obvious that they were acting nnder a sense of injustice but they were going the wrong wav about it, observed : the Magistrate. He tlien said he would convict andj diseharge her on all charges. j To Alexander the Magistrate ex-, plained that by' carrviiig a placardj which attracted crowds "110 was guilty of obstructing the footpath and, by not j moving on when requested, lie was guil-l ty or obstructing the police, who, oi" j Lourse, had a job to do. [ "You must understand thcrc's aj frame-up on us, " Alexander said.: "You can do what you like to me. I'llj do it again and again and again." "What do you want?" asked the j Mngistfate. " I want redrcss for my daughter and j a public apology. " "1 'm afraid 1 can't assist you," said j the Magistrate. j " Why can T you assist me? That'sj not Christianity. Y'ou can pusli drunksj around but you cau't push me around." I On the first charge of obstructing the footpath Alexander would be convicted I and discharged, said the Magistrate. On| the second charge he would be fined £l.j "There '11 be no fine paid. I 'II keepi the £1," said Alexander. "Give us ■iome more. " He was fined £ii for obstructing thej roudwav. j "On the first charge of obstructing. tlie police ..." began the Magistrate. j "(Jome on, rub. it in. Give it to nie."j " . . . You will be convicted and discharged.' ' 'j ' ' Well, that 's that oue. Wlnit 's the otlier?" Alexander said. On the otlier charge of liindering llic police he was fined £3. " Mr. Alexander," said the Magis- j trate, "if you desirc to liave some legal j advice you can ar range ..." The Magistrate's voice could not be heard above that of the accused, "Oh,j go on," being tlie phrase most easilyj heard. i To Alrs. Alexander the Magistrate i said that he would ^convict and dis- i charge her on all charges. "I feur vou I liave taken a mistaken way to draw t atlcntion to your grievances, " the f Magistrate concluded.