HOLLAND'S CASE;

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1924, 5 December 1913, Page 8

HOLLAND'S CASE;

A CURIOUS DENOUEMENT. Shortly before five o'clock the citso of Henry Holland was mentioned. Ttie charge against him was as follows:— On October 26, at Wellington, hedid wilfully incite divers persons to resist constables stationed at Wellington in the execution of their duty by uttering tho following words:— "'if they (meaning tho police) hit you with a baton, hit them with a pick-handle and have, the pick ivfc tho end of it." Tlio Magistrate said that the case could bo commenced—oho witness could bo taken—and continued in the rooming. Mr, Wilford, who with Mr. O'Regan appeared for Holland, said that the caso could he disposed of in six or sevon minutes. Ho did not propose to erossoxamiuo the witnesses, ho was prepared to tako the judgment as given in Young's case, and formally give notice of appeal; the. defence was purely n legal one. Mr. Ostler said that ho had a number of witnesses to call as to the state of nlfairs before and after tho day on which the speech was delivered, but if Mr. Wilford would admit all tins evidence ho would just- call one witness to prove that the words complained of were used.

ilr. Wilford: I'll admit it; our defence is entirely a legal one. Leo Stephen fanning, of the staff of tho "Evening l'ost," was then called. Ho gave evidence to tho effect that ho was in the Basin Hescrve on tho afternoon of the speech. Tho crowd numbered 3000 to '1000, and included members of tilt- waterside workers on strike. Ho reported tiic portion of the speech included in the charge. Mr. Wilford: No questions, The Magistrate referred the witness to the portion of tho report immediately preceding tho words in tho charge. Tin's portion ran: "I. remind them" (said to mean the police) "if words used by me at Broken Hill in Australia on the occasion when I was sentenced to two years' imprisonment on a charge of sedition. 1 told the miners." {'then followed tho words in the charge.) Boplying to questions from His Worship Mr. Fanning said thai, the impression that he got at tho. time was that Holland was reciting to the audience words employed by him at Broken Hill on the occasion of a strike there. The Magistrate then stated that ho was not prepared to enter a conviction. Mr. Ostler:. Surely, before Your Worship decides that way, 1 have a right to argue 1' The Magistrate: I understood- tlmt there was to be no argument. Mr. Ostler said that if His Worship's decision stood, anyone, could escape the law by saying that they were using words'which they had employed on a former occasion. Mr. Ostler added that he had a number of witnesses that ho could call regarding the, words said to have been used. Mr. Wilford: Rut my friend closed bis ease. He- is not entitled to criticise Your Worship's judgment. The Magistrate: 1 am not satisfied that this comes within the Act. 1 dismiss the information. His Worship subsequently remarked that all this showed the danger of attempting arrangements and not calling tho whole of the evidence. Ho would not talio any other cases that evening; thm- would have to be gone right through from start- to finish. The other charges against Holland and those against Semplo and Barker are to be called on at 11.30' this morning. M'Clinton's Colleen Soap keeps skin soft, clear, smooth. .Countess of feex wr'tcs- "I havo used M Clintons soaps for vrars.'-Advt. Ta'kii'" into consideration the whole of EurVqVthere are 107 inhabitants to tho square mile, for Bronchial Coughs and Colds, Woods' Great Peppermint Care, Ib. 61*