SUBVERSION CHARGES

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23313, 26 April 1941, Page 3

SUBVERSION CHARGES

♦ YOUTH COMMITTED FOR TRIAL Eric Alexander Jackson, aged 20, faced subversion charges in the Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial, pleading not guilty. ' The charges alleged that he had in his possession 46 stickers worded “No more troops for overseas,” and that he had eight copies of “Torch,” with a view, in each case, to facilitating the publication of a subversive statement, contrary to the emergency regulations. Mr E. C. Levvey, S.M., was on the bench, Mr A. W. Brown prosecuted for the Crown, and Mr P, H. T. Alpers represented Jackson. ' After two sergeants and three constables had given evidence about stickers found on poles and windows in Sydenham and St. Albans, ActingDetective E. G. Ward described his search of lackson’s bedroom at his home, 52 StXAlbans street. There, he had found 48 Mickers worded "No more troops for Overseas” in an overcoat pocket. • • ’ , • , Witness, accompanied by Constable I. P. Meiklejohn, had waited in the street for Jackson to return home. Constable Meiklejohn said that when Jackson saw him approaching he ran away, but witness overtook, the accused, and the latter agreed to go to the police station.' There, he declined to explain the stickers found in his room. .' Henry Thomas Fuller, a printer, identified the stickers found in the streets- with those found in Jackson s room, and said they had all been printed with the same, block, a linoOpening the evidence on the second charge, Acting-Detective Ward said that in his search of the room he also found eight copies of the “Torch, a pamphlet. Jackson had declined to discuss this at the police office. Constable Meiklejohn, after corroborating this evidence, said that on August 9, 1940, in an interview, he had found Jackson possessing a copy of the “People s Voice.” * Detective W. A. Parrish said that six of the copies of the “Torch” were dated January 24, 1940, but their contents indicated that they should have been dated January 24. 1941. There was a reference to Mr S. G. Holland, M.P., as “leader of the National Party, witness said, and. he drew the inference from this and other facts. Jackson pleaded not guilty to each charge, and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Bail was allowed in the accused’s recognisance of £2OO, with two sureties of £IOO and the condition that he report to the police as directed.