MAN FOUND NOT GUILTY

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31984, 10 May 1969, Page 16

MAN FOUND NOT GUILTY

Picketing In Washington

(N.Z.P. A.-Reuter—Copyright)

WASHINGTON, May 8.

A 34-year-old man was , found not guilty in Washingi ton yesterday after being , arrested on charges of illeg- ■ ally picketing while the Prime Minister of Australia ; (Mr Gorton) was in the Presidential guest house. Mr John R. Flanagan was arrested on Monday while taking part in an anti-Vietpam wir demonstration staged by Quakers in front of the White House. Mrs Gorton was in: the Presidential guest house across the. street at the Umei Judge Milton Kronheim, of the District of Columbia Court of General Session, acquitted Mr Flanagan of the charge of staging a demonstration within 500 feet of a building occupied by a, visiting foreign dignatory. The United States Attorney’s office then dropped a second charge against him of demonstrating without a permit.

During the 15-minute trial Mr Bichard Stuckey, an assiatant United States attorney, said the antiwar placard Mr Flanagan had carried villifled Australia, and \brought Australia, and Mr Gorton, into “public odium . . . and into public disrepute.” Mr Flanagan had been carrying pMcards criticising the Vietnam war,’ but they participation, and did not mention Australia.