STRIKE ECHO

Grey River Argus, 21 June 1944, Page 6

STRIKE ECHO

THREE TROTSKYITES GAOLED LONDON, June 19. Three of four Trotskyites charged under the Trades Disputes and Trade Unions’ Act, in connection with the Tyneside apprentices’ strike in March against the Bevin Pit Ballot Scheme, have been sentenced to imprisonment. Rawling Tearse, 25, secretary of the Militant Workers ’Federation, whom the police described as a political agitator, Lambert Heaton Lee, 32, a South Africans and Tyneside organiser of the Revolutionary Communist. Party, were found guilty on two charges of furthering the strike and were sentenced to 12 months imprisonment on each charge, the sentences to be concurrent. James Ritchie Haston, national secretaryorganiser of the Revolutionary Communist. Party, was- found guilty on two similar charges, and was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment on each charge,- the sentences to be concurrent. Mrs Rosalie Ethel Keen was nominally sentenced to 13 days’ imprisonment, which meant immediate release. All the accused gave notice of appeal. The Judge told the men they were dangerous persons to be allowed their liberty at such a time.