ECHO OF THE ELECTION

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2365, 22 January 1915, Page 8

ECHO OF THE ELECTION

DISTURBING A MEETING ' CASE AGAINST CALLAGHAN At the Magistrate's Court yesterday morning, before Mr. D. G. A. Cooper, S.M., Patrick Callaghan appeared to answer a charge of having disturbed a political meeting held by Mr. F. M. B. Fisher, in the Mission Hall, Tory Street, on December 4 last. Mr. J. J. M'Grath appeared for accused, and Inspector Hendrey prosecuted. Inspector Hendrey explained the circumstances of the case. Accused had interrupted the meeting persistently, and when removed had returned and oreated more disturbance. The case, he said, could not'be brought to a oOnolusion that day,. as Mr. Fishei was away up north. William Alexander Thompson was the firßt witness. He said he was present at Mr. Fisher's meeting, and had engaged the hall for the occasion. He ■was outside the building during the meeting, and had observed the accused in the poroh of tho hall. Witness heard aooused making such interjections as "What about the Huntly murders; answer that if you can." Callaghan would roar out such things as these. Shortly witness went over to him and warned him that he would get into trouble. Callaghan only laughed at "him, and some time after pushed his way into the porch and interjected. Witness then asked a constable to remove him, that was after he heard accused call out "You're a cad," presumably to Mr. Fisher. Accused appeared very excitable, and had apparently been drinking. To Mr. M'Grath: Witness had for some years been Mr. Fisher's secretary "and right-hand man. Witness would not deny- that he had given a pamphlet about The Huntley Murder to Callaghan." He admitted that it was the reasonable right of electors to ask questions at meetings. Mr. M'Grath: Callaghan is a coal miner, and do you think it anything extraordinary after reading this pamphlet that he should cry out "What about the. Huntley] murders; answer that if you can," Witness: But Callaghaa's . attitude was wholly unreasonable., Mr. M'Grath went on to quote from a newspaper report of the ejection of accused, whioh stated that tne candidate had refused to answer and "had provoked Callaghan. The witness: 1 don't know anything about that. I was out on the footpath during the meeting. Senior-Sergeant Dew, who was also present at the meeting, said the meeting was one of the most orderly Mr. Fisher had had, and that undoubtedly Callaghan disturbed the meeting. To Mr. M'Grath: Witness had previously known accused. About the time of the Waihi strike Callaghan addressed a ptfblic. meeting at Denniston. Witness was further examined by counsel in regard to the statements in the newspaper report of the meeting. Constable M'Crea said that he liad warned accused a number of times about the row he waß making, put him out of the hall, and finally arrested hinf. Accused "had undoubtedly disturbed the meeting. At this stage Mr. M'Grath asked that the case be adjourned 6ine die, so that Mr. Fisher might be called as a , witness. ■ The adjournment was granted, the case to be called within. 48 hours' notice.'