THE "GREEN RAY"

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 22, 25 July 1918, Page 3

THE "GREEN RAY"

PUBLISHERS SENTENCED TO IMPRISONMENT. SEDITIOUS UTTERANCES ON

EVERY PAGE.

(II TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

, DUNEDIN, 24th July. At the Police Court. Thomas Padraic Cummins and Albert James O'Ryan were charged with publishing in a monthly publication, called the Green Ray, a seditious utterance, which utterance was seditious in that it was caused to be published by the said Cummins and O'Ryan . with intent to incite disaffection against the Government of the United Kingdom, and to encourage the commission in the United Kingdom of an offence prejudicial to the public safety in respect of the present war, to wit, the crime of treason, by levying war against His Majesty, contrary to the War.Regulations. Mr. B. J. Dolan, of Napier, appeared for both defendants, who pleaded not guilty.

After a lengthy hearing, Mr. H. A. Young, S.M., said that in looking through the pages it appeared to him that on every page there was a seditious utterance. He was convinced that, the aim of the publication was to assist in every way possible the establishment of a republic in Ireland. It was a most serious matter to encourage the people of Ireland to levy war against us for the purpose of the establishment of a republic in Ireland,

Defendants, both of whom are of military age, were sentenced to eleven months' hard labour.

In reply to the accused's counsel, the Magistrate said he was prepared to state a case for appeal.