PRESS COMMENTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 173, 23 July 1936, Page 7

PRESS COMMENTS.

SEQUEL IN COURT. Legal Action Follows Hyde Park Corner Incident. TWO PAPERS ARRAIGNED. United I J ress Association.—Copyright. (Received 9.30 a.m.) LONDON", July 22. Statements published in the "Evening News" and the "Daily Express," arising from the proceedings against George Andrew McMahon, arrested in connection with the Wellington Arch incident, were the subject of legal action to-day.

This took the form of an application-oil the part of the Attorney-General Sir Donald Sotnervill, for a rule nisi for a writ of attachment against the editors and publishers of the papers concerncd on the ground that their comments gravely prejudiced the fair trial of the accused. The Bench, including the Chief Justice, Lord Hewart, granted the application and the hearing was set down for Monday next.

The Attorney-General quoted passages from the "Daily Express" describing McMahon as "a man with a grievance against authority," and alleging that he be kept under constant observation of prison doctors and mental specialists, declaring, "This is a case of a man who brooded over imaginary wrongs and allowed his instability of character to derange his native intelligence, and boasted that his views were nonsectarian and non-political.

The "Daily Express" also published statesments of persons claiming acquaintance with McMahon. One of these statements was that "He has drinking bouts, sending him crazy." Other paragraphs, of which the AttorneyGeneral complained, stated that McMahon was obsessed with the crazy idea that Sir John Simon, Home Secretary, and the Home Office were preventing publication of the "Human Gazette," the paper of which it was stated McMahon was editor.

The Attorney-General also cited alleged incidents in McMalion's life which were published in the "Evening News," declaring that he had grave objections to biographies of this kind. He objected to other passages, "purporting to deal with the motives and mental state of accused."

The "Daily Telegraph" predicts that the charge against McMahon will be reduced.

Under the present charge against the accused, namely, that of "unlawfully having in his possession on July 16 a loaded revolver with intent to endanger life and property, contrary to Section VII. of the Firearms Act, 1020," the maximum penalty is 20 years' penal servitude.