THE TRIAL OF RUA

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2802, 21 June 1916, Page 5

THE TRIAL OF RUA

!. '.' ~» COMMISSIONER CULLEN'S I EVIDENCE. By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, June 20. At Rua's trial Mr. John Cullen, Commissioner of Police, stated that as he approached Rua, who had informed! a constable that he wished to see witness alone, the "prophet" ran away. ■ The constables struggled with him, and as the latter would not walk witness gave instructions that he be frog-marched. This was done, and a shot rang out from the gully, where there were no. police. He saw one baton only, and there was no flying of batons. If Rua had listened to the first appeal lives might have been saved. Nothing was said by witness to scare Rua. Sub-Inspector Johnson deserved great credit for grabbing Rua when he did, otherwise the quences would have been much worse, Rua's object in trying to escape evidently being to get into the bush. Mr. 1010 here put in a petition to .the Prime Minister, signed by Paora Kungi and 23 others to the effect that if Rua is called upon to' answer charges for which ho had .been punished a gun would be fired as a challenge. Commissioner Cullen 6aid he expected a hostile demonstration when ho went to tho settlement. He gave orders to the men not to slioot any unarmed Maoris. Ho did not desire any hostile action on the part of the police. Twenty-two guns, one .303 rifle, and a revolver," found after tho affray, were produced in Court.