SENTENCE STANDS

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 46, 23 February 1929, Page 9

SENTENCE STANDS

JACOB JOHNSON CASE

Allegation Of False Evidence

Refuted

SEAMAN ASKS FOR £200,

(Australian and N.Z. Press Association.) (Received i 0 a.m.) SYDNEY, this day. Following the sensational allegations made in the Federal House of Representatives by Mr. E. G. Theodore, deputy Labour leader, that false evidence, obtained by bribery by the police, had been tendered in the intimidation charges against Jacob Johnson, the AttorneyGeneral, Mr. J. G. Latham, has made all the papers available.

These contained letters from Bede Andresen, a seaman, who, it was stated, divulged the doings at a union meeting to the police, asking the Government to find a position for him or provide him with £200 in order to enable him to get a start in some other country. He declared positively that it was unsafe for him to accept employment in maritime circles in Australia. Mr. Latham replied to Johnson's solicitors that Andresen was not employed to get evidence against Johnson. Whatever evidence was collected was obtained before Andresen obtained it. Andreseirs statements were definitely shown to be inconsistent, and, moreover, they were contradicted by facts. Mr. Latham said he was not prepared to reopen tho case against Jacob Johnson, who was sentenced to six months' imprisonment.