TEACHER GAOLED

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 107, 1 November 1941, Page 10

TEACHER GAOLED

OBSTRUCTING POLICE

Described by the police as, a Christian Pacifist, John Willetts, aged 19, a school teacher, pleaded guilty in the Magistrate's Court today to a charge of obstructing a police sergeant in the execution of his duty and was sentenced by Mr. J. L. Stout, S.M., to three months' imprisonment with hard labour.

Sub-Inspector G. H. Lambert said that Willetts began to address a crowd of 40 or 50 people* in Courtenay Place last night. He began by saying that the nations of the world were crucifying Christ afresh today by prosecuting the war. Sergeant F. J. P. Bonnington. then told him to desist and that he would be arrested if he did not, as the police .had reason to fear a breach of the peace if he continued. He began to speak again and was arrested. Nothing was known against him.

The Magistrate: You know that this is prohibited?

Willetts: Yes.

The Magistrate:. Don't imagine that you're being the martyr. The people being the martyrs are those fighting for you overseas.

The accused had had plenty of warning from previous cases, said the Magistrate, and there was no excuse for him. He would be sentenced to three months' imprisonment with hard labour.

Willetts: Have I a chance to make one or two points clear?

The Magistrate said he did not want to hear anything. Willetts had pleaded guilty and knew the penalty.