CHARGES FAIL

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 31, 31 October 1929, Page 11

CHARGES FAIL

UNION OFFICIALS ACQUITTED

CONSPIRACY NOT PROVEN JURY CONSIDERS EVIDENCE INSUFFICIENT (United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright!) i . (Rec. October 30, 8.15 p.m.) Sydney, October 30. The trial of Garden, Reeve, Ryan and others, charged with conspiracy to molest and intimidate free labourers In connection with the timber workers’ strike, concluded abruptly at (he Criminal Court to-day, when the foreman of the jury announced that the jury was of opinion that there was not sufficient evidence to warrant a conviction. The whole of the men were then acquitted and discharged. [Charges of conspiracy to intimidate free labourers in the timber Industry were laid against seven union officials, namely: John Smith Garden, 48 years, secretary to the Labour Council; Charles Reeves, 52, a bricklayer; Michael Ryan, 34, organiser; William Terry, 42, organiser; Edward Paton, 24, organiser; John Culbert, 38, secretary; John Kavanagh, 50, organiser. The charges were laid upon Information sworn by Inspector Mackay, who was present during demonstrations outside Hudson’s yards at Glebe. "• They set out that accused had conspired with other persons unknown, (1) to prevent, by violence or threats, timber workers from following their lawful occupation; (2) to molest and intimidate the workmen of George Hudson Limited and so force them to leave their employment, to the detriment of their employers;' (3) th riotously assemble persons to assault the workmen at Hudson’s. Kavanagh was further charged with having an unlicensed revolver. It was alleged that the police found the revolver when they arrested him at his home.]