AN ONEWHERO "SPECIAL."

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 3, Issue 162, 16 January 1914, Page 4

AN ONEWHERO "SPECIAL."

Charged With Assault. Complainant's Story Rejected. Deserved Whatever He Got A strike incident was recalled at the Auckland Police Court on Wednesday, when Charles Thomas Reeves (Mr M. D. Mahoney). who took part in the late strike, proceeded against T. R. Brookes (Mr R. N. Moody, instructed by Mr H. Dawson), of Onewhero, who acted as a special constable during the strike, on a charge of assault. The case arose out of an occurrence on December 4th, when Reeves was alleged to have been hustled off the Maheno by specials constables prior to the departure of the vessel to Sydney. Brookes was charged with having seized Reeves by the arm and pushed him off the boai. The case was heard by Messrs W. Tattley, W. Perry Taylor and A. Thompson, J's.P. The plaintiff, in his evidence, explained that it had been hi" intention to leave for Sydney by the Maheno on December 4th. He Btated that he got on to the boat followed by a largely-built special constable, who called out to the stokehold hands, who were special constables, "Here's Reaves aboard. Come on up boys." A crowd came up, with them Brookes, and cried out, "Where's Reeves?" He stepped forward and said, "I'm Reeves. What do you want?" Then Brookes and another man grabbed him by the arms and bent them behind him and hurt him to tuch an extent that he remarked, "Wtatever you do to me, don't break my arms.'' The crowd then hustled him off the boat, but before he got away he was very severely handled. "WHAT HAD YOU DONE z BEFORE?"

The Bench: You said you expected rough handling when you got on board. What reastn had you to expect it? Was it for something yuu had done before? Reeves: Well, no. I just put two and two together. The Bench: Then what were those twos i n 1 twt s that you put together?

Well, the way 1 was handled *oa the wharves and the fact that the man who followed me aboard was casting glances at me. The Bench: Yes, yes; but you said that when you were on the wharf you expected trouble. Mr Moody: Did you ever make a statement as to what should be done to the wives and daughters of the specisl constables? Reeves: No, never.

Mr Moody then read a statement to the Court, in which the words Reeves was supposed to have used were detailed, but again Reeves denied the use of the words.

Mr Moody: Do you know that the so-called Strike Committee disowned your statements concerning the farmers' daughters? Reevts: They disowned the statements of anyone but members of the committee, but they did not mention my name in particular. Mr Mcody: Why were you going to Sydney? Reeves: I was tired of this country and wanted a change. Mr Moody: Were you going over there to make trouble? Reeves: No. Mr Moody: Did you ever threaten that any man who worked the ship woild be dealt with in Sydney? Reeves: No. Mr Moody: Teil me why it was you were such a well - marked characler. Was it on account of your remarks about the women and girls?

Keeves: I didn't say those words, but I suppose they had heard me speak ard our views clashed.

THE UNIFORMED POLICE. Mr Moody: When this alleged tssault occurred, were there net uniformed police about? Reeve : Yes, there were. Mr Moody: Ard didn't they do anything to protect you? Reeves: No, they stood by laughing—more to their sham 1 . Mr Moody: Thought you deserved whatever was happening, eh?

J. E. Taylor gave evidence to fhe effect that he saw Reeves hustl'd off the boat hy a crowd, who were shakirg him l : ke dogs would sh-ke a rat. The crowd surged aljnj behind and acpeared to te endeavouring to choke Reeves. The witnees htervened, but could rot identity any of the aggressor?.

William Hodgson, a labourer, identified Brookes as the msn who had hold of Reeves' left arm. Harry Barry, a plumber, maintained that he could recognise the man who had hold of Reeves, but on being asked to do so could not point out Broekes in Coiiit. John Simpson Hayward desciiSed bow Reeves was struck, but explained that he would tot be alle to identify any of the alleged aggressors. This closed the case lor the complainant. NO UNDUE VIOLENCE. Detective A. Hammond explained that Reeves had been most hostile to the special constables, and from ill appearances madi his living out of the striker.- 1 . When Keeves was going up the gangway of the Maheno on December 4th the cidwd surged around and someone secured his hat. Captain Todd, of the Union Steam Company, had consulted with Detective Gourley and the witness, and together they had discussed the advisability of allowing Reeves on board, ai he might have explosives with him. The party, therefore, went on board to search the bag brought on to the ship by Reeveß. Ihey were too late, however, for men, who looked as though they had just come up from the stokehold, grabbed him and.escortsd him (If the vessel. Witnesa ran slong, but before he arrived Reives had been lun off the wharf. As far as the deter tive saw, no unnecessary violence was used.

At this ?*age the Bench intimated that • did not desire to hear any more evid°"ce and that the case would be dismissed. There had been r.o evidence to show that the defendant had taken any special part in the proceedings. Costs would not be allowed.