SUBVERSIVE SPEECH CHARGE

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 3, 3 July 1940, Page 9

SUBVERSIVE SPEECH CHARGE

Pleading not guilty in the Magistrate's Court today to a Charge under the Public Safety Emergency Regulations of making a subversive speech at a public meeting in the Rio Grande Hall at Miramar on the night of Sunday, May 26j Douglas Murdoch Martin was committed by Mr. A. M. Goulding, S:M., to the Supreme Court for trial. Bail was allowed.

Mr. W. H. Cunningham conducted the Crown case, and Mr. W. P. Rollings appeared for the defence.

In evidence for the prosecution Jack McLean, a qualified shorthand writer, said he attended the meeting with Detectives S. C. Browne and A. Reid. Martin was the chairman, and about thirty people were present. The witness took shorthand notes of what was said at the meeting, and he handed into the Court a transcription of the notes.

Detective Browne said that McLean's transcription was a true and accurate account of what had been said at the meeting, which was said to be a protest against the imprisonment of the Rev. O. E. Burton and of a man named Lyttle.

Detective Reid gave corroborative evidence.

Parts of the transcription were read.

Mr. Rollings contended that on a fair construction of what Martin said at the meeting he should not be sent for trial, but the Magistrate said that if it appeared that a prima facie case had been made out the matter should go to the Supreme Court, and he thought this case should.