DISLOYAL STATEMENTS.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15767, 7 December 1916, Page 3

DISLOYAL STATEMENTS.

WATERSIDE WORKER CONVICTED.

FINE OF .£"2O

'.The, Courthouse at Lyttelton was crowded yesterday when Charles Ansell was charged with that on November 7th, 1916, at Lyttelton, he did publish a statement indicating disloyalty in/respect of the present war, to wit: "I won't 6ght, and 1 won't light for my wife and children. Every .■sixpence spont'in making, a bullet for the- destination of humanity \* a waste, of money. The Germans have given us all we want, and will give.us more." -ll« was also charged with using the 6»nie language contrary to tho War Regulations Act, as being likely to interfere with recruiting. ; Mr J. A. C'assidy appeared for the who pleaded not guilty. David Hugh Lloyd, a police constable, said that. at. 8. p.m. on November 7th,. he was present at a recruiting meeting addressed by Air L. M. Isitt, upfront "of the local post office. The speaker drew attention to the sum' of money spent annually in drink,* viz., four "and a half millions of- pounds, vhich he said should be devoted in such 'uncs as the present to tho manufacture of bullets. At about .this-stage Mool made use of the remarks charged igainst him. Frederick Portgate gave corroborative evidence. Claude Ferrier, a Justice of the rea<v, said.he came out of his office at. O.JO p.in., nnd listened to Mr Isitt's recruiting address. At the conclusion of the meeting the Alavor called for recruits. Wheu the National Anthem »>■-being sung, Anseli stood by with his hat on,-and someone in tho crowd removed it from his head. From his remark* witness concluded that Ansell *as a German, a nd told him so< Ansell then said that the Germans had given Us all we wanted, and.-would vet give Us more. AVitness told Ansell'that he Wa s a traitor to talk in such a strain. Air Cassidy said that Ansell eamo of an- intensely patriotic fainilv, and was himself an ex-Navy man. On the evening in question he was returning from -he races at Christchurch when he saw the meeting and stopped to listen. Air | isitt was then, speaking ou the econo- j "ones of drink and races, and it was arising out of theso statements that I ■Ansell s remarks wore made". The defendant, Charles • Ansell. a waterside worker said that bo was a married man with-two children. He was English by birth, having been borii j »| »t. _ John's. Surrey. He" joined the j jAavv.as an apprentice,-and remained in the service for fifteen vears. Hv had two brothers in the Navy, one a prisoner of war in Germany since the battle of Mous. another was recently invalided from France, and another was in tb© firing-line. He also assisted to support hi s sisters four children. On the evening in question he heard Mr Isitt discoursing on the evils of liquor and races, and on Mr Lloyd George's speech on silver bullets, he asked Air bitt a question as to the crime against humanity in spending such sums of money in making bullets, whereupon Mr Isitt called him an apology for a man. Someone in the crowd asked him if, he had ever been with the Germans, witness replying that he had, and saving they had taught him something. It not being the custom in the Navy to take hats off, witness stood at atten- ■ tion when tho National Anthem was being sung. Ho would certainly fight tor his wife and.family if tho necessity

arose. He- had no pro-German proclivities, and' would deny 'the statements made by Messrs Ferrier and Portgate... AVilliani Radcliffo, Mayor of Lyttelton, said that Mr Isitt's meeting was on things that militated against winning the war. He asked Air Isitt to touch ou recruiting matters to help the meeting to be hold the following night. Ansell asked Mr Isitt, through witness, if raising riionev to buy bullets to destroy human lifo was not ' a crime against humanity. AVitncss did not hear any remark alleged to have been passed by Ansell at the conclusion of the meeting. E. E. Lauglcy, president of the Lyttclton Watersiders' Union, said that Ansell had been a member of the Union for five years, and so far as he knew had never been suspected of being a. pro-German-In giving hit; decision. Mr Bishop s-'nid he had no doubt in his mind that Ansoll had told deliberate untruths in the Court. "You say you are an Englishman." continued the Magistrate with feeling. "So am I, and I am utterly ashamed of. you." . • A fine of £'20 and costs was imposed.