EDWARDS CASE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 251, 14 June 1932, Page 5

EDWARDS CASE

(Press. Assn.

three months gaol COMMUNIST GUILTY OF INCITING CROWD TO RIOT . PLEA FOR DEFENCE

. — By Telegraph — Copyright).

AUCKLAND, Monday." The hearing of the case of James Henry Edwards, a Communist leader, eharged with inciting lawlessness on the night of the riot of April 14, was continued. I In opening . the defence counsel I said Edwards had been a marked man for years. He was a labour agitator, and had been trying to get better treatment for the unemployed. It was significant that a few days after the riot Archbishbp Averill and other high church dignitaries had formed a committee to investigate camp conditions and that those conditions had somewhat impr'oved. Counsel proceeded to comment on. 'the discrepancies in the evidence of the police witnesses. He said much had been made of the words used by Edwards in the procession, "Shall we 1 fight?" That was merely a slogan, and was not meant physically, There were a number of criminals in the crowd, carring mi'ssiles, but this was quite unlcnown to Edwards. When facing the crowd and with both.arms up counselling the crowd, "For God's sake, go back," Edwards was struck by a baton. He then mounted a balustrade and tried to move the crowd away from the main door. He then left for the hospital. It was not correct that he was batoned twice. Edwards In Box Giving evidence, Edwards said that he arrived in New Zealand hefore the war, and he earned his living by putting up " tea. He described the procession preceding the riot, and said that when he ' fouhd there was a scuffle at the main do ors of the Town Hall he decided to try to get his' men away "from there and to assemble them in front of the balustrade to hold an orderly meeting. Before he had time to say anything he got a crack from behind and fell. A woman appealed to him to do something, saying that the crowd had gone mad. He was helped on to the balustrade where he told the crowd that the police had started the trouble. He counselled them to crowd round the police but not to use violence. His words were: "If there is to be any violence let it come from them. If they crowd round you take their batons off them, hut don't flse them." Two ambulance men then took him away. Cross-examined, witness said that though he was a Communist he was not a leader. He left the hospital because he realised that on such occasions the leaders were always arrested. He wanted it to he the biggest demonstration in Auckland, but hooligans spoilt it. Supporting evidence was heard. Edwards was convieted on the charge of inciting and sentenced to three months' imprisonment. Security for appeal was lodged.