AN EDITOR IN TROUBLE

Evening Star, Issue 16211, 5 September 1916, Page 4

AN EDITOR IN TROUBLE

appeals against imprisonment.

Clarence Edgar Allen, editor of ‘Machinery, appealed at the London Sessions last month against a sentence of three months’ imprisonment in the second division, passed at Bow Street, for publishing' information* calculated to ho useful to the enemy in an article entitled ‘The Manufacture of Trench Howitzer Shells.’ n l el \ a r ' nm ber of witnesses had been called, Mr Lawrie said that it seemed to mm that it would be impossible to contest the contention that the information might be calculated to be of assistance to the enemy hut if Mr Boysfield (for the appellant) thought that more evidence would ha\e a reasonable chance of success on those lines he was prepared to listen to 1 . hand, having clearly Taken the; view that appellant’s' motives nere in all probability patriotic and obviousby not unpatriotic, he should certaiulv think that the justice of the case would be met by withdrawing the term of imprisonment and substituting a fine Mr Boysfield: If you take that view I do not think I ought to trouble you with further evidence.

Said he , C6l 'tainly should not uTj that this was the worst case of its kind, but the regulation was so utterly essentia! to the country that it should receive implicit obedience. He hoped that the risk that the appellant had run would snow editors that they mutt err on the side of caution.

Mr Lawne said the real purpose of the prosecution had been obtained. As appellant’s intention was to assist the country and not the reverse, he felt justified in taking a lenient view. The appeal was dismissed, with costs, but the sentence was reduced to a fine of £IOO.