CONSPIRACY CHARGE

Grey River Argus, 4 June 1942, Page 5

CONSPIRACY CHARGE

Four West' Australians ALLEGED NATIONAL SOCIALIST PROJECT. (Rec. 9.25). PERTH, June 3. Four internees have been Held here m custody since last March. Tne., now are facing the. Chief Justice, Sil John Nortmore, and a jury, in the Criminal Court. The indictment, which thet deny is. that of having contravened the Crimes’ Act between February Ist. and March 9th. this year, by conspiring to assist a public enemy, the Japanese Empire. The accused are oaurence Frederick Bullock, aged 44, an organiser for the Primary Producers’ Association; Charles Leonard Williams, 35, an insurance age... Edward Cunningham Quince, 30, a dairy farmer; and Nancy Krakouer, 29, an employee of the Postal Department. The Crown, contention was that tne four prisoners took part in activities aimed at the overthrow of the Curtin Government, and the substitution in Australia of the “First National Socialist Government.” ’The Crown contended that, at., welcoming invading Japanese, and also assisting the invaders, by liquidating prominent personalities, and destroying key works, they intended to order the Australian Military Forces to cease fire and to lay down their arms.„

It was contended, moreover, that the accused drew up a proclamation to be broadcast over the wireless, by Bullock, as leader, announcing the establishment of a new ordei; also paying a tribute to the Japanese as •our friends and liberators”; and outlining a programme of political and social reconstruction. The hearing is continuing.

Transvaal Trial (Rec. 11.0). JOHANNESBURG, June 3. A secret army was formed early last year to overthrow the Union Government, according to the prosecution, at the opening of a trial in which forty-eight men, including seventeen police, were all accused of treason. The v are alleged to be members of the Ossewabrandwag Storm Troops!. A section of these drilled in a military way, and established factories for the manufacture of grenades and bombs. The section contacted enemy agents at Laurenzo, Marques, thereby hoping to secure arms. They also had possession of documents, plans, and shipping information, valuable to the enemy. They helped' internees to escape and received sabotage instruction.