LAW REPORTS.
■ SUPREME COURT. ■'■'~■■ HUNTEfI'3 RETRIAL; GUILTY OP SEDITION. '■ ■ | The re-trial of Edward Hunter on a eharne of having uttered seditious words at Xewtown Park on December 11, tlnrinn the strike, was heard at the Supreme Court yesterday, before His Honour Mr. Justice liosking. Mr. H. H. Ostler conducted the case for the Crown, and Mr. T. Wilforel, with Mr. P. J. O'ltegan, appeared for the accused. Tho following jury was empanelled:— Kdward Norton (foreman), Wni. Ernest Clark. Herbert Milliugtonj Joseph Fitzsimmons, Paul Sydon, Wm. Yatcs, liobert Bennett, Jatnos Andrew Simpson, Uicliard Kawsoij., .Frederick Yntes, Ernest Thos. llobiftson, John Wm. M^'ausht. The indictment, on wliich accuse?] had pleaded not guilty, was as follows :— "You fellows must realise that if. you are > going to control things properly you must have might behind you. You cannot do it with a box of cigarettes and -a match. The strikers controlled tho Coast, and had set aside all law and order. The men on strike? were told by the leaders that they hud the freedom of tho city there, and, having that, could do anything they thought fit. There was a Mayor 'hi Westport, but he had been set asklo, and everything was controlled by the strikers. They can bi'inft tho specials round to the Coast. In lact, we yive them a special invitation, and 1 swear this, in the name of the party most concerned, that tor every one special they care to ..put down on tho ("east up to ono ' thousand, we can put one down beside, him, just as good a. mtm, and j if this is going to be a contest as to who is going to control, then we are prepared to iaialtc it a contest. More than .that, we nieii know that ■ this Government is shedding blood. Wo had our fellow-workers' br-Htnl-lv murdered in Waibi. There is no one instances ttmli tho workers' ranks where too'have caused, any bloodshed. Now, ,if they arc going to shed our blood, e'hy should wo lrmk on at otir wohiots mid children being clubbed ami oftVr no rctalia- . tinn? Now, if they want a revolution they can have it. If they force it on us, they can have a revolution" (or words to ilie like effect)/ In opening the case for the Crown, Mr. Ostler said th.nt accused had apparently been a West Coast delegate! during the strike, to a conforeflco hold in Wellington. *Tk« words that farmed tho charge agsiisist Hmitei , had liwn uttered in Newtown Park; before a large crowd of iieople-. Air. Ostler referred to the question of sedition, asul pointed to the inferences which, he submitted, bad been,. conveyed by tho words.
Tlie. ovidoneo of M. Edwards, reporter on the staff of Tiik Domisiox, Detective Lewis, and Acting-Detective Dempsey was given regarding the speech made by accusetl.
No evidence was called for the de« fence, and Mr. Ostler refrained from addressing the jury.
,; iAlv«oWiilfdfd< addressed* the jury at length,.contending that , the Crow had not proved its case. The jury retired at 4.1-5 p.m., and returned at 5.60 p.m. with a verdict of guilty. Tliey ree&raiiiendcd- accused to mercy, on the ground tliat h<; had probably been carried aivsy by his feelings.
His Honour said that he would pass icnteiice at 9.45 to-ttrarrott morumg.
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Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2152, 19 May 1914, Page 9
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545LAW REPORTS. Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2152, 19 May 1914, Page 9
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