RIOTERS’ TRIAL

Hokitika Guardian, 25 May 1932, Page 5

RIOTERS’ TRIAL

MORE EVIDENCE

CROWN’S FIFTIETH WITNESS

(By Telegraph —Per Press Association)

AUCKLAND, May 24

Such good progress was made to-day with the hearing of evidence against the fourteen men accused of taking part in the rioting in the city on the night of April 14th that when the .Supreme Court adjourned for the day, the Grown,’fiftieth witness was ill the box. fils will be tn ken when the court resumes to-mor-

lt is understood the Crown -will call one further witness.

The cases are being heard together before Mr. Justice Hardman and a jury. Considerable public interest cont'nued to be evinced in the trial to-day, th/ig, bring a fairly large percentage of women among the crowd which filled the body of the court. It is expected that tlie trial will la;t at least two days.

Th e bulk of evidence was given by detectives and constables. They described rioting outside the T°wn Hall and looting in Queen Street, An attempt by some of the unemployed in the procession to upset a taxicab was described, A constable said that looting was going on wholesale, and when a window was .smashed the crowd would choer in Queen Street. ■

Evidence that he had been called to th© Royal Garage, Park Road, about 3.40 on tlhe night of th e riot, was given by Cyr'-l Withe! 1, taxi driver. He found that his fare had a bandaged head. When he was instructed to drive the man to the Town Hall, witness said : “You don’t expect me to drive there, do you?” The man replied:

“I’m Jim Edwards. While I'm with you. you are the safest man in Auckland.” Witness accepted the assurance, and drove 'Edwards to the fringe of the crowd at the Town Hall. {Edwards addressed a man there by ihis Christian name, and asked how things were going. Edwards said he would be back in about ten minutes. Witness said he then drove. Edwards to the latter’s home in Manning 'Street. Edwards and his' wife were then driven hack to the Town Hall. Mi’s Edwards tried to dissuade Edwards from getting out of the taxicab, as she thought there was danger of his being arrested. Edwards said ho did not want to be thought a coward. He said: “I’m not going into the cooler tp-night. I’ll get half a dozen men to picket my house.”

Witness said a megaphone was found in his cab.after Edwards had alighted. The hearing will be continued tomorrow.