CRONIN’S TRIAL

Hokitika Guardian, 29 December 1933, Page 6

CRONIN’S TRIAL

FURTHER EVIDENCE HEARD

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright).

(Received this day, at 12.50 p.m.) LONDON, December 28

Mr McGuckin, Cronin’s counsel, at the resumption of tr.al declared the prosecution sinisterly omitted f he charge against Cronin of possession of ammunition, replacing it with the .fantastic '.charge. of because 'those in (charge of the hives ligation knew Cronin’s declaration that- the ammunition was not theme half an hour before the> raid.. wjjis-true., ■ TKe -prosecution hr.d .vented its political spleen ai a gentleman whose honour was kno.wni Mr fMcGuckin added that the allegations .of membership of unlawful associations failed because, the National Guard had ..dissolved in October, while the' Young Ireland parly was not banned. untijl three, days after his arrest./.

Cronin in his evidence said he saw uo- (ammunition in -hlis offices ( before the raid. He told Sergeant Hughes: “I believe, you, or your -agent, placed it there’.” He added; “I protested to the detective exposing a revolver as though the gun wag also going io be “planked.” He 1 ladded that, while in prison, the Governor /and - three military police came to his cell and said they had orders to collect his blue shirt. “I .replied that they must take it forcibly, whereupon the police after a struggle on the floor in which one knelt on my chest arid another on my knees, and tore off all my clothes including two shirts. I was severely bruised, necessitating a doctor. I hanger struck for two days, but desisted when the charge was preferred. : Crdss-examiried, Cronin denied that the letter ’ declaring; the ban on the National Guard -should not be deterrent to'activities;:, was seditious as the ban was unjustified.- It was the duty of the people to ’resist and denounce tyranny, whether committed by the 'Government or not. ~