ALLEGED DISLOYALTY.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 21, 24 January 1917, Page 2

ALLEGED DISLOYALTY.

TALK OF A TEKRITORIAX. TO TWO KINGSLAXD GIRLS. iA.YS HE WANTED TO MAKE THEM <• WILD/ An unueual of prosecution under the war regulations came before Mr. T. V. Frazer, SJI., to-day, when a young man named Frank Bennett (24) was charged that he published a statement, in course of conversation with two young women at Kingsland, indicating disloyalty on his part in respect to the present war. WHY HE MDXT GO. A young lady, a dressmaker of Morn-ing-side, stated" that on January 11 defendant was introduced to her by a fnri , friend who worked with her. She and her friend left a tram at Page's store. Kiingsland, between 10.30 p.m. and 11 p.m. on January 11, and were overtaken while they were walking home by defendant, who was introduced to witness. In the course of general conversation, defendant was asked if he were thinking of going to the war, and he replied " .No,"' and~ it was suggested that he might have to go, and he replied that if he were called up he supposed he would have to go. He said he was not anxio-UB to go. and they asked him v he could really call himself a man in the face of all the boys that had gone. He replied that the others were fools to go, and would be no better thought of when they came back. Her friend replied that if he were in Germany, and talked like that, he would get into trouble, and •would probably be shot. He said the British did the same thing, and referred to someone who had been shxrt in Ireland.

THE RIGHT OF A GIRL. He said the country would be no Sroree under German rule as the country Tvae not free, and no man could call his ■ eoul his own. They retorted, that they ! wished he was in Germany, meaning so that he could see for himself what it was like. He said he wouldn't mind being in Germany. He didn't seem excited or angry, but talked just as <in an ordinary discussion. She did not by any meane thank that defendant was paying these things as a joke. To Mr. Simpson: Witness did not think they said anything , to annoy defendant into making the remarks mentioned. She thought defendant tm'ce said that men were fools to go to the war. and that was what particularly annoyed her and her friend. She knew that he was a member of the Coast Defence Artillery. Counsel: What right had you to ask him if he wae going to the war? ■Witness: The right of every girl to ask any man. Witness added that it was a natural subject to discuss just now. She was not aware that defendant had a bad knee and was medically unfit. She considered that defendant was quite serious in what he said.

THE ABSESTT BOYS CHA3IPIOKED. The friend of the previous witness gave corroboratory evidence. She remembered defendant stating that the boys were fools to go to the war, as they got no thanks for it. When it was suggested they were in honour bound to go. he replied: "What is honour, anyway!" He added that he would be just as well off under German rule as here, where a man didn't own 2ft of ground and couldirt call his soul his o-vm. Witness had known defendant for several years, and she had always been on good terms with him, and bore him no ill-will. To Mr. Simpson: In speaking generally, defendant's conversation was opposed to the British. Witness only suggested in a friendly way that he might go to the war, and was greatly surprised at his remarks, as she had never previously suspected defendant of disloyalty. Witness got heated over the remarks, and later reported them to Lieutenant Atkinson. To his Worship: After the statement about the boys not being in honour bound to go, witness said it was defendant's duty to go, and he gradually got more disloyal in his statements. Defendant did not ask them what business it was of theirs, but said he would like to argue the point. He said he wished they were boys, and they could go. That was because they said they would go if they were boys. Defendant seemed not to be angry, but rather to be in earnest in endeavouring to convince them that he was right in what he said. TO "MAKE THE GIRLS 'WILD.'' Detective-Sergeant Hollis testified that when arrested three days ago defendant said, on reading the charge: "That's right. I did it for the purpose of making the girls wild." Defendant also said he was going to plead "Guilty.' ,

To Mr. %npson: Defendant was told, after he had admitted the facts, that there would be less costs for witnesses if he pleaded "Guilty." Defendant said that the statements in the warrant •were not quite right, but generally they "were right. DEFENDANTS VERSION. Defendant said he was a carter, and leld the rank of sergeant in the 'A' , Battery. Field Artillery. "When he spoke to the girls, one of whom he had known for several years, t»;e conversation drifted to the war, and one of them said, "When are you going to the war. He replied that he expected he would be going shortly—he would be drawn in the ballot. She replied that now was the time for a man to prove himself a man and go. He answered that a man could prove himself a man without going to the war. Then she said that it was men like him that ought to be under German rule, and he rejoined. "Perhaps some of ■us would be better if we were under German rule." Her reply, that if he were a German he would he shot for such etatements, caused him to say that there was a case like that of Skeffington, ■who ■was shot in Ireland. Witness stated that he wae very much annoyed and provoked at the time. A week or two before this he had interviewed Captain Titehener at the barracks to make arrangements to get away with the March draft in the Artillery. Prior to that he had had a eerious accident to a knee. If he had not had a. desire to annoy the girls, as they had annoyed him, lie would not have made the statements. He had lived all his life in New Zealand, and his father and mother were of English extractionTo Chief Detective McMahon: He lived in New North Road, Morningside, and he knew no resident of the neighbourhood who was not British. He did not say that the boye were ioola to go to the •war, or that a man could not call his soul To his Worship: When one young lady epoke of honour she said a mau for the honour and glory of his country, not his own honour, and -he said he would not go for honour and glory, but for what bje could get for hirneelf. . .• ----- --:Jem±-