SUPREME COURT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 186, 5 February 1914, Page 5

SUPREME COURT.

AVELLINGTON SESSION. THE STRIKE RIOT. TUB CHIEF JUSTICE SPEAKS OUT. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Yesterday. Comment was nude by the Chief Justice to-day on the way the authorities handled the Featherston street riots, during the hearing of a charge against a waterside worker of taking part in' a riot.

The foreman' of the jury asked why the evidence of the arresting constables had not been brought forward. The Crown Prosecutor explained that ! the arrested men had got mixed up at the police station and owing to the general confusion and excitement prevailing at the time they were not able to call those who were arrested. The Chief Justice said the case for the Crown liad been prepared in a very slipshod way, although he did not blame the counsel for the Crown. The fact that there was excitement and trouble on the day in question was no excuse for the supine conduct of those responsible for the safety of the city. Where stones were thrown and human life was in danI ger some far more serious steps should have been taken in the interests of publie safety. It may have been that the police authorities thought that they not sufficient force.

The Chief Justice saW the case seemed to have been managed In a very slipshod way. Instead of five or six arrests- fifty or sixty should have been made. His Honor added that the special constables seemed to have been exceedingly forbearing, far more so than would be the case in many other countries.

Alexander' Churchman was charged in the Supreme Court to-day with taking part in a riot in Wellington and further with assaulting special constables. The jury returned a verdict of not guilty. Thomas Ackland, charged with taking part in an unlawful assembly and usinff obscene language was found guilty and 'remanded for sentence. WELLINGTON SESSION. Wellington, Last Night. Edward Calclough was charged at the Supreme Court with discharging ft firearm in Post Office Square or. October 30 with intent to do barm to constables, and with taking part in a riot. The jury returned with a verdict of guilty on the second count. The prisoner was remanded for sentence.