THE STRIKE TRIALS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1978, 7 February 1914, Page 6

THE STRIKE TRIALS.

ROYAL TIGER RIOT.

THE JURY UNABLE TO AGREE.

BARRIER RUFFIAN.

THE RUSH ON B.S. RIMUTAKA,

Two more trials arising out of strike disturbances wore opened in the Supreme yesterday. His Honour the Chief Justice (Sir Bobert Stout) was on the Bench. In one of these cases (that of Robert Hill) the jury disagreed, and His Honour ordered a new trial, which will not be commenced before Monday.

Robert Hill was charged with having taken part in a riot in Taranaki Street on November 4. Mr. P. S..K. Macassey conducted the Crown case, and Hill was defended by Mr. E. J. Fitzgibbon. Hill's plea was not guilty. The. riot in question was that which occurred outside the Royal Tiger Hotel in Taranaki Street on the night of November 4. Mr. Macassey said that the night in that locality had been a wild one,' and nearly all tho windows in the hotel had been broken by missiles. Hill was in tho crowd, and was seen by Police-Inspector Hendrey in the act of throwing a bottle at a. constable. Why the Hotel Was Stoned. Margaret M'lntosh, licensee of the Royal Tiger, stated that the hotel had been attacked by the mob because special constables had been served on the premises. About 800 people of all descriptions had assembled. outside the building, and stones and pieces of iron were hurled through the windows. She had been, very much alarmed at the time, and the damage had cost about £15.

Constable Fred Longbottom deposed that he had arrested one Campbell, a watersider, for stone-throwing during the-riot. A good deal of trouble had been experienced ,in effecting the arrest, because people in the crowd had endeavoured to get him away. After witness had taken Campbell in charge. Hill, who was doing a good deal of talking, placed his hand on Campbell's shoulder. On the way to the police station with Campbell, witness was struck in the back with' an aerated-water bottle. .'

To Mr. Fitzgibbon: He did not experience any resistance when Hill put a hand on Campbell; and he could,not say what Hill's object was. While on the way to the station with' Campbell, witness had been followed by a large mob.

Detective-Sergeant Cassells deposed that he had seen Hill among the crowd during the riot. When he was brought to the station, Hill, who was excited, asked him if he could do anything for him, and-denied that he had taken any part in the disturbance. Hill had eaid that-he lived in Abel Smith.Street, but he could have got homo without going through the portion of Taranaki Street in which ho was arrested.

.•Constable Bernard James M'Donald, of Taihape, who waß in Wellington oa strike duty in November last, stated that he had seen Hill among the crowd when Campbell was being arrested. To Mr. Fitzgibbon: When Hill was protesting his'innocence at the station he did not impress witness as being a guilty man. • ~, Inspector Charles William Hendrey, speaking of the state of the riot, said that there were shouts of "Scab I" "Scab beer!" and "Scab hotel!" and there were shouts of laughter whenever a window was smashed. When the constables wore taking Campbell to the station endeavour was mado to keep the crowd back, but some broke through, foremost amongst these being Hill. He saw Hill throw a bottle, which hit Constable Longbottom in tho back, and ho at once took Hill in charge. Hill denied throwing the missile, but afterwards endeavoured to break away. The general attitude of the' crowd was very hostile to tho police, and some of the constables were-struck ■by stones. One constable was still suffering from the effects of a blow on the head. Prisonor's Defence, Hill gave evidence denying the charge. He said that ho had only been in the crowd half a minute when he was arrested. He was not a striker, and was out of sympathy with acts of violence. James Brandon, Hill's employer, said that the accused was a very quiet, reliable man, and tho last person whom he would think likely /to .commit tho act with which he was charged. Henry Lake, for whom Hill was working on the'date of the alleged, offence, deposed that accused had borne a good character. Frederick Brown, _ printer's apprentice, was called to give evidence as to Hill's opinions on the strike, but the Court said that such evidence was not required. Mr. Fitzgibbon, addressing the jury, said that the Crown had not absolutely proved the charge, and Hill should therefore bo given the' benefit of tho doubt.

The jury was in retirement for four hours and a half, and then announced that there was no chance of agreeing. A now trial was set down for Monday or later, and in the meantime Hill is released on his own recognisance. SEAL CUILTY. THE RUSH ON OCTOBER 24. Robert James Christopher Seal, who was prominent in processions": and demonstrations during the strike, was charged with having wilfully destroyed a barricade on King's Wharf on October 24, the date being that on which the Rimutaka was rushed. He pleaded not guilty, and conducted his own.defence. Mr. P. S. K. Macassey represented the Crown. Chief-Detective Broberg and Detective Lowis.deposed that they had seen Seal commit the act which he was accused of. . The accused cross-examined these and other witnesses at great length as. to the times of happenings deposed to. His Honour made it clear that time was immaterial, but said that he had given Seal more liberty than -he would extend to counsel because Seal was not expected to be learned in the law. Seal was found'guilty, and the jury asked the Court to take into consideration that lie had been in prison 6omo considerable time. His Honour said that he always did that, but would also have to consider that Seal had been in trouble previously, and had convictions against him. Sentence was deferred till to-day.