OCEAN BOMB PLOTS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 32, 1 November 1917, Page 5

OCEAN BOMB PLOTS

Sydney, October 31. Harold Batten (accused of being concerned in bomb conspiracies for tho pinking of ships) has boon committed for trial. The police produoed a number of extraordinary letters referring to tho sinking of ships and tho falsifying ot discharges. [Harold Batten, aged 20, a seaman, was charged before Mr. Love, S.M., at the Central Police Court, Sydney, on October 16, with having, at Sydney, on or about October 9, forpied a seamans certiheato of discharge Inspector Mitohcll, in asking for a remand, stated tho forgery alleged was that the discharge actually belonged to tho accused, but bad beon altered from that of a ecullcryman to that of third mate. When arrested accused was found to have in his possession a quantity of gelignite, detonators. tJid fusefi, and correspondence rolating to explosions on ships. Mr. Love: What ship is ho employed on? Inspector Mitchell: On a Jocal vessel, 1 forget tho name now; h<? haa also been employed on the Union Company's boate here. Mr. Love: What nationality is ho? Inspector Mitcholl: A local product, I think. The Magistrate, to accused (who was cryinj in tho dock): Whore do you come fromi r Accused: Victoria. Accused was remandcd for a weok. Bail was refused.]