RIOTER IN COURT

Hokitika Guardian, 9 June 1932, Page 6

RIOTER IN COURT

INDITING LAWLESSNESS.

By Telegraph—Per Press Association

AUCKLAND, . June 9

.lames Henry Edwards, aged 40, a canvasser, and'a leading Communist in Auckland, appeared in the Police Court, to-day on-charges of inciting lawlessness on April 14, and of participating in the riot.

The Crown Prosecutor conducted the case, and Edwards was represented by a prominent barrister. The Magistrate, Mr Hunt, rejected nn application that the first chaige, wh'ich : is a summary one, should be deferred until Edwards had been tried in the Supreme Court in the other. Evidence was given that when part of the- procession reached the town Ha.ll, Edwards was seen in possession of a -megaphone and was heard to <s>y . .(‘Get round them, boys, and take their hiVtons off them ! r A rush was then made against the police,-' Cross examined bv witness. Const able Edwards said that he did not see accused trying to check the crowd, or hear him counselling them against violence. Another constable said that accuser , in - addressing the crowd to fake the batons! from the police added: They have' shown ns violence. so we will ‘(•Tiish H That wn« as far as he got before' he was .struck down by a police baton.

Evidence on similar lines wa< given hv other policemen. Cn"stahY "'eu said that Edwards had previously been speaking from the balustrade of the (Town ITail 1 working the crowd into n frenzy. The ease is proceeding.