THE INQUEST ON EVANS

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1617, 7 December 1912, Page 6

THE INQUEST ON EVANS

WAIHI RIOTING. EVIDENCE OP STRIKE WOMEN. (By Tolegrapli— Press Association.) Waihl, Dooombor 6. The inquiry in connection with tho death of Evans was resumed this morning. Ijongthy evidence was givon by Kathorino Hislop, a sister of a striker who went to gaol. She said that Evans wont out of the back of tho hull first. She followed closely behind. Evans ran through a fence, and she followed ten yards behind. She saw tho crowd of workere coming round tho sitlo of the Union Hall, and as soon as they .saw Evans getting through tho fence ■ thoy pursued him. There were no police with them.. She saw Evans fall, and thought lie tripped, and then she saw a constable run up to Evans, and white the latter was lying full length on tho ground tho oonstablo stooped and struck Evans on tho back of the car with his baton. Afterwards a worker struck Evans on the head with a baton or stick. Then a number surrounded him and appeared to kick him. She saw no revolvers, but just before Evans got through the fence sho hoard a revolver shot, which sho thought came from a worker. Evans was running at the time, and his action did not indicate he had fired. She had mado a statement to a detective within half an hour of. the. occurrence that morning. She was as clear in her mind now as then, that Evans did not shoot Wade. Auckland, December 8. • Federationists at Hnntly are strongly opposed to tho new award. A representative proceeds to Wellington this week to confer with the federation's solicitor and executive, with tho object of upsetting the registration of the new union. Caroline Hislop, aged 11, gave evidence. Sho stated that she was in the hall at the time of the shooting. She heard a shot fired. Prior to. leaving the back of the building she ran into an adjoining section. Sho then saw Evans get through the back of tho fence, and afterwards heard a 6hot fired. She did not actually see it fired. The next thing which she 6aw was a policeman being assisted by other constables, and, a little later, she 6aw Evans being lifted up by two constables. She stated that she had seen no revolvers in the possession of the men in the hall nor outside. Referring to the shooting in the liall, witness went on to say that she was under the impression that the'first shot came from outside the door, as she saw no revolver inside, and did not see any smoke.

A statement made by Mrs. Cottie to Detective. Sweeney was put in as evidence, but cross-examination was deterred until this morning, when Mrs. Cottio would attend in person. Dr. Craig was recalled, and subjected to a searching cross-examination regarding the nature of Evans's v wounds. MANAGER AND WORKERS. Mr. H. P. Barry, superintendent of the Waihi Company, took . the opportunity, prior to the commencement of work, of addressing the men. He commended them for their conduct during the trying period, and specially remarked on their behaviour, and thanked them for having stuck to their work. He reassured them that none but arbitrationists would bo employed by,.the company, and he trusted that the conduct of the workers would in future bo such that no reflection could be cast upon them. ' At the conclusion of Mr. Bn-nys remarks, the men-applauded and cheered. At a mass meeting of federationists today, it was decided by an overwhelming majority that five individual federationists be given a freo hand to join the new union or leave Waihi. A further show of hands indicated that 80 per cent, of the men had 'decided to leave the town. Those who join the new union in order to comnly with tho company's conditions to get work ate to be given a clearance from the federation. • _ _ .. . The question of declaring _ Waihi "black" was left over for'the decision' of the federation's executive. PALMERSTON MEETING. Palmerston, December G. Messrs. Potter and Poster, delegates from 'the Waihi Chamber of Commerce addressed a large public meeting to-night giving the arbitrationists' side ■ of the recent Waihi trouble. In the absence of the president of the Palmerston Chamber of Commerce the Mayor presided. The speaker gave a description of strike matters at Waihi and repeated alleged utterances at street meetings at _ Waihi. They incurred a fire of interruptions but a vote of thanks was passed by a large majority, this being followed by hooting from men wearing red rosettes.