WAIHI STRIKE

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10713, 19 September 1912, Page 5

WAIHI STRIKE

ALLOWING UP CASES. * xm 1 tiAilu.i/. -j. ( tn& &*6<x.~iut-airi,. i WAIHI, Lust Night. Tho application of the police to have a number of strikers bound over to .keep the peace continued this afternoon before Air F. V. Eraser, S.M. Proceedings opened with the charge -against C. Opie, alleged to hn*c been prominent in the "K.lowing up" of iVee labourer* at Waiklnu on September 4th. Opie pleaded not guilty and conducted his 'own defence. In addressing tho Court OpTe contended.'that Wohlmaji in alleging that defendant wa« in the front row at the demonstration at W.aikino on the afternoon of Scpetmber 2nd, had unquestionably made a mistake. The majority of the police called had stated that they had not seen him, and their testimony wag supported] by .four free labourers, who had been examined. John Law. battery hand, who was in •defendant's company throughout the afternoon, stated that Opie was not in the front row, and had not boon prominent in the demonstration. Opie 3iad not followed the free labourers Cross-examined, Opie said that lie had l>eeno-n Dixon's track, and also near the foot of Frasers track th.it afternoon, but was not following the men. Corroborative evidence was given by D. Conrick. This concluded the defence, and His -Worship in dismissing ihe information against Opie, said the -rase for the prosecution was certainly not as strong a« in the charges against "the three others concerned. It was quite clear that Opie had been at Waiki.no, and'in-the crowd, but it was -clear from the evidence that he had -followed, or as to certain places in which it was said he had been seen. This being so heicould not say that the charge had been proved. "The information against F. Pntan., €. Midwinter, A. Hughes, C. O'Toole, A. Hislop, E. Worth a.ud P. Marks for -alleged "following Tip" to cause annoyance to tho enginedriver Haydon on ! September sth, and C. Coghlan and i Charles Harman for threatening behaviour to Haydon were, then pro-] Hcoetied wi'th. -Harman was not- m attendance, and the others pleaded not gnilty. Opening for the •■ prostitution Mack& detailed the incident stating that Haydon" was followed ly a large crowd, the accused being simonk the nnmber. The dr ; /er was in considerable fear. On instruction •from Constable Williamson '.he man walked twice round a cert-vn block, j and the crowd followed a r i the wa-, | thus proving immfstakeably that Jie following was persistent or mention- j Constables Miles and; V -Iliamson'"' sravo pnHioulars of the ' 'following j no." The latter stated tint '.he defendants were, prominent in -.he n:o- 1 region. There had been >io attempt en the part of th" Wlewp.rs to "convert" the driver. T+ had been p r\«.ce r f d'utib fnllowinrr. The mmes cf the men had been taken while the demonstration was in progress. Hay-<-Inn was

Witness could hnrcMy harp credited that, the strikers would follow men like Haydon. who was lame and n •weaklintr. Cross-examined hv Mr O. T3rnrfh. who hv the. consent of tin* Magistrate, appeared for several of th<* fMnndfrit.s. Constable Williamson said that the following was such as M cause iminvanoe and .-. intimidate Haydon. who might readily have been provoked to create a breach of the peace. His object in telling Haydon to follow a certain route was i.n order that he misrht satisfy himself as to whether the strikers were deliberately -and intentionally following him about. Francis Haydon, the driver who was followed, said, that, the following ■was organised, and pome of those taking part pressed closely upon his Tioels. At. one stage he seined hold of the two accused l and pushed thomtovnnfa one of the constables. The attitude of the strikers caused him annoyance, and he was actually in fear. Crosp-exammed, witness fjfiirl he was satisfied that he was heine followed for a pnroose.- He was in fear and helieved that he.would have suffered bedilv injury hadi the crowd "■' him awav hv himself. Tfo-examined, he said he had not lost all fear because he had hem! that one of the driver* (Shoard> had been followed since police proceedings had heen instituted'. To Mr Smith: He said tint he would prefer to see more police i" Waihi. to nro+oet marked men. He could do with three or four hiTjself. Constable Blackelev corroborated the evidence of previous witnesses, and named some of the defendants ns among those who followed Haydon. Tim concluded' the ev ; ' for the prosecution.