THE STRIKE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 25 November 1913, Page 5

THE STRIKE.

COURT PROCEEDINGS.

ANOTHER MAN COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. (By Telegraph — Preti Aitociation.} WELLINGTON, Last Night At the Magistrate's Court, Thomas Ackland was committed for trial.on a charge of participating in an unlawful assembly on Waterloo quay on October 29th. On two other charges of obscene language and taking par' in a riot in Post Office square on November 19th, Ackland was remamioj till December 2nd. Mr Riddell, S.M., gave his decision this afternoon in connection with the application for a- re-hearing of the case in which Charles Finch was convicted and subsequently sent to gaol for using insulting language and assaulting a special constable. The rehearing was granted, and will be taken by Mr Evans, S.M. The accused was admitted to bail.

ALLEGED ATTEMPTED MURDER. HASSELL BEFORE THE COURT. A CONFLICT OF TESTIMONY. ACCUSED COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. WELLINGTON, Last Night. In the Magistrate's Court, James Patrick Hassell was charged with taking part in a riot in Taranaki street on November 3rd, and also with. attempting to murder Police Commissioner Cullen on the same date. He was further charged with assaulting a special constable on November Bth. „ The first witness, Andrew Kelly, declared that he was standing near Thomson's shop on the night of the riot, and a man was beside him. In answer to counsel, Jie said he did not know whether the man was the accused or not. He persisted in this statement, when counsel asked if it was not a fact that Ee previously told tine" police jthat the man beside him was Hassell. The Magistrate warned the witness that he might be prosecuted for perjury. In answer to further questions, the witness said he could, not say whether of not the accused fired at Comfmissioner Cullen or anybody. He ad- ! ded that the weapon in the man's hand was only a toy pistol. | Counsel read a statement made to the. police, and signed by Kelly, in which he said Hassell was standing, beside him. He saw him fire five shots with a revolver. He had presented the revolver at Cullen. > Witness said he wished to contradict the statement which had not been read to him before signing. Counsel treated Kelly, as a hostile witness. Venetta Thomson, daughter of the keeper of the shop from under tho verandah of which" the shooting took place, said she saw a 'man firo three or four shots. Afterwards the man went into the shop. While reloading, the revolver, it went off and tho bul--1 let hit a. boy who was standing near. ! In answer.,to Counsel, witness i stated accused was notjhe man she [saw with tho revolver. She could not [ say whether the man had -a moustache or not. The accused was not | tlie man she identified'in the police yard. Witness identified the previous witness Kelly ns the other man who was in the shop at the time., but • she reiterated "the statement that ithe man with the revolver was; not the accused. Commissioner Cullen stated that ho heard several bullets whistle close to him. He saw the flashes of, or heard the reports of fully a dozen shots, manv from under Thomson's verandah.'' Philip do Sousa, Alice Earp, Sergt, Taylor, Constable Btssett, Captain Symons, Charles Body, and Detective Cassells. also gave evidence. The latter, referring to Kelly's declaration, that his written statement had not been read to him, witness said lie had written ft tD Kelly's dictation.The latter had said he did not want it road, that everything was alright. Corroborative evidence was given bv Detective Mason. The accused pleaded not guilty to tlie charges of attempted murder u-r,d taking part in a riot. He was committed for trial, bail of £2OO beirvg ' allowed. ' "Accused was convicted of assault-' inn a special constable, and was fined £5, or a month's 'imprisonment. ,