DAMAGES GRANTED

Evening Star, Issue 19520, 30 March 1927, Page 5

DAMAGES GRANTED

JACOB JOHNSON’S CLAIM

?r«s» Association—By Telegraph—Copyright

SYDNEY, March 20. There was a peculiar feature of Jacob Johnson’s claim against the Federal Government. The jury came into court with a vehdict for the defendant. The judge pointed out that Johnson’s arrest was admittedly illegal, and Iho jury’s task was simply to determine the amount of the damages to which the plaintiff was entitled. Counsel for the plaintiff asked that this verdict bo recorded, but the judge declined.

The jury, after a second retirement, assessed Johnson’s damages at £2O. [At the time of the shrike Thomas Walsh was general president of the Seamen’s Union, and Jacob Johnson secretary. The Deportation Act was passed in the hopes of ridding the country of what had proved a disturbing element, but the _ measure was found to bo unconstitutional. Claims for £5,000 each were also filed by the wives of Walsh and_ Johnson in connection with the imprisonment of their husbands, but these were subsequently withdrawn. Mrs Walsh was Miss Adela Pankhurst, youngest daughter of the Mrs Pankhurst who was a militant leader in the Woman’s Suffrage movement.]