SEDITIOUS UTTERANCE.

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3015, 28 February 1917, Page 4

SEDITIOUS UTTERANCE.

ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIEST .FINED/ By Telegraph—Proas Association., Auckland, February 27. At tho Police Court to-day a young Catholic priest,- Father John Arthur! Roche, was charged with a seditious - utterance, to wit:—"The Germans are! a bettor civilised nation than the Brn tish. You are a fool to go to the war." A plea of guilty was. entered. " Chief Detective MacMahon stated that on Monday evening a soldier was in conversation with a- friend.in a hotel commercial room when defendant came in, and was drawn into a conversation on Irish politics, conscription, and the Australian Referendum. Defendant subsequently had said ho was an Australian, and, ignorant of the fact that it was an offence against the law to speak as ho had done, as it was no offence in Australia. He had no disloyal intent. •'-'•'■.-. Father Hoi brook, in reply to the Bench, said he knew defendant regretted using the words, and was desirous of returning to Australia. Tho Magistrate said; it was 'not a case for imprisonment, as the words were not nsed in a public place, and the circumstances did not show serious intention of wrong-doing. A fine of £5 and costs was imposed.