RIOTER CHARGED

Hokitika Guardian, 29 July 1932, Page 6

RIOTER CHARGED

CASE BEFORE SUPREME COURT

TRIAL OF COMMUNIST LEADER

(Per Press Association— Copyright.)

AUCKLAND; July 29. The trial of James Henry Edwards, on a charge of taking part in the riot on April 14, was continued in the Supreme Court to-day. The jurymen were kept together last night, and about thirty witnesses, most. .policemen, gave evidence for the Grown, their l evidence closely following that given iin the lower court, and in other riot cases.

Detective-Sergeant Boyle said that he ’had had previous experience of riots, including the 'Lloyd George r.iot in Birmingham, but he never saw a more, disorderly crowd than the one outside the town hall.

Counsel for the defence said that the Crown, by skilfully presenting the evidence, had coloured the case against Edwards. Many weapons had • been exhibited in th e Court but there was no evidence that Edwards had used any of them. The police made mistakes like other people and he intended to call evidence which would entirely disagree with much of the police testimony.

JEdwards, who said he was a married man with eight children, stated that, when walking in the procession to the town .hall, he called out “Usual " orbing class slogans,” namely “Shall we go' into slave camps?” or “Shall we fight for our wives and kids?” He had no intention of creating trouble. At the start of the riot he saw a crowd outside the main dohr break into a semicircle and the police driving them back with batons. He ran along, intending to call upon the crowd to give no troub’e, but was struck down. , Cross-examined, accused said that he was a member of the Communist party for about a year, and gave three addresses. The unemployed workers’ movement 'regarded him as, a leader. The Labour" Defence League was composed of men an all walks of life. The League was for the legal and financial protection of “men in an unfortunate position like myself.”

Accused, when a-sked why be went into hiding'after the riot, said that he knew from experience, that, in times of trouble, the police always looked for those they considered the leaders, particularly >if they happened to be Communists.

The Crown Prosecutor :. But you had done nothing, you say ? Accused ; That is so, but I belonged ito a party not very popular with the police 4 just then. Accused admitted telling the crowd that, if they were attacked, they should crowd round the police and take their batons off them.

Other witnesses for the defence were then called.