U.K. Newspaper Group Fined

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31539, 29 November 1967, Page 17

U.K. Newspaper Group Fined

(N.Z.P.A .-Reuter —Copyright)

LONDON, November 28. Three judges yesterday fined Times Newspapers, Ltd, £5OOO for publishing a hardhitting profile of the Black Moslem leader, Michael X, while he was awaiting trial.

But they decided not to exercise their authority to gaol Mr Harold Evans, editor of the “Sunday Times" — which published the article on October 29—for contempt of Court.

Lord Parker, the Lord Chief Justice, said the article, which spoke of Michael X’s former “unedifying career as brothel keeper, procurer and property racketeer,” was a classic case of contempt of Court.

But he said no penalty would be imposed on Mr Evans because he knew nothing about the article before publication and had done everything possible to prevent this sort of thing happening. In a statement Mr Evans said it was physically impossible for him to read every word before publication. The “Sunday Times,” one

of Britain’s most influential papers with a circulation of over I.Bm is published by Times Newspapers, Ltd, which belongs to the Canadian-born Lord Thomson.