WOMAN STONE THROWER

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 202, 19 April 1932, Page 6

WOMAN STONE THROWER

TOOK PART IN RIOT .* ACTIVITIES IN QUEEN* STREET AND KARANGAHAPE ROAD BAD PREVIOUS RECORD " AUCKLAND, Momlay. A woman who plcaded guilty to a charge of inciting lawlessness in New- - ton on Friday night when the r'ot occurred was sent to prison 011 this, and other charges, by Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., in the Police Court this morning. She was Violet Robinson, aged 32, - whose address, aceording to the chargc sheet, was Portland Road, Remuera. * She was taken into custody by a detective at midday on Saturday. ; Accused was charged as follows: • Throwing stones in Pitt Street on •Friday night, to the danger of passersby; mischief by wilfully damaging a window valued at £30, the property of George Pearce; thsft of ? clock, gold ring and string of beads. of a total value of £1 15/- on Thursday, the night of the riot in Queen Street; and also with inc'ting lawlessness. Robinson pleaded guilty to ttu charge of inciting lawlessness, but d.~ nied the other charges. Constable Vial, attached to the da tective office, said he was on duty at the corner of Beresford and Pii: Streets, Newton, at 7.50 on Friday night. He saw accused there :n front of a large crowd. She was exciteu and stood on a safety zone, calling out "The Red Flag." As a number of special constables went by accused shouted, "You scabby lot of ." Stones In Her Hand ' She had some stones in her ba.id and witness saw her throw a stone at a plate-glass window. Immediately after she had thrown the stone a window of Mr. Pearee's shop was brokcn. "Her general conduct was to incitc lawlessness," added witness. "I lcept her under observation for an hour and a half. The riot was occurr'ng in the locality where accused was." Detective Waterson( of Wellington) said he saw accused throw two stones. and heard her calling out filthy expressions to the police. The crowd she addressed were rioting. Evidence that accused had a shopping bag containing stones, was g'ven by Detective Brady. She afterwards threw two stones at the Gas Company's windows, but did not smash them. He deemed it unwise to arrest her then owing to the largs crowd present. Detective Allsopp said he knew accused well. She usually took a prominent part with other women in all street demonstrat'ons. Counsel. Do you think it is because she is carried away by excitement that she does these things? — No, I don't. Detective Sedden spoke of an interview with accused in the polict cells after her * arrest. Questioned about some jewellery, she adm'tteo that she had placed some in a shop in Khyber Pass Road, but she addec that she intended to take it to th police station, only she was arrest jo before she could do so. Robinson admitted being among the rioters or, Thursday night last in Queen Stre f and explained that a man whom she did not know handed her the jewellery wh:ch she afterwards left at the shop.

Admits Throwing Stones Accused thon gave evidence. She said she was a married woman living with her husband. "I only threw oue stone— no more," she said. Mr. F. K. Hunt: That's enough for me. Mrs Robinson: I never really usec the language they say I did. 'I realij intended to take the jewellery to the police. I can ident;fy two men who I saw stealing from shops. One oi' , them gave me the jewellery. Give me i. one more chance and 1*11 obey the bylaws. Detective Sergeant ICelly: You had that chance when you were arrest k for throwing bricks at a riot whielr took place near the post office over a year ago? — Yes, but I ask for ichance now. Detective Sergeant Kelly: You have a bad list of previous convictions, altogether 10 conv'ctions for theft?- — Yes, but — "You are an Australian criminal — No. "Well, what did you get a six months' sentence for in Sydney sonn time ago? — Oh, you should not bring up the past like this. On the charge of throwing a stone . accused was convicted and discharged. On each of the other three charg ::; she was sentenced to three months' impr'sonment, the magistrate ordex-ing that the sentences be cumulative.