COURSE OF JUSTICE

Northern Advocate, 21 August 1929, Page 3

COURSE OF JUSTICE

PERVERSION ATTEMPT. SEQUEL TO ARRESTS. LABOUR PAPER PENALISED. (Australian Press Association.) (Received 3.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, August 20. The Full Court imposed . a fine of £250 on the newspaper “Labour Daily” and £SO on the editor, Q. Spcdding. The Court held that there had been real and substantial interference with the course of justice by the publication of certain articles which were calculated to prejudice a fair trial of the seven arrested union leaders in connection with the timber strike when their

eases were sub judicc. Acting Chief Justice Ferguson said: “It has been a matter of very serious consideration for me whether w r e should be justified in merely imposing a fine. It is impossible to come to any other conclusion than that it was respondents’ deliberate intention to prejudice a fair trial of persons whose cause they -were championing.”

Stones were thrown at a party of policemen by striking' timbermen on July 20 at a mass picketing demonstration outside Hudson’s timber yards at Glebe, Sydney. Volunteer workers were leaving the yards with more than 200 policemen in attendance as escorts, when 2000 strike pickets, urged on by women, attempted to isolate the volunteers. Four men were arrested in the course of the demonstration. One constable was injured by a missile. His comrades succeeded in keeping the strikers back while the workers reached the trams. Women spat at the police and volunteers' and shouted abuse as they passed. After singing revolutionary songs the strikers dispersed. As a sequel to the disorders the police on July 22 raided the Trades Hall, Sydney. They arrested Jock Garden, secretary of the Trades and Labour Council; J. Culbert, M.L.C., secretary of the Timber Workers’ Union; W, Terry, organiser of the pinion; J, Kavanagh, chairman of the Disputes Committee of the Labour Council; C. Reeves and M. P. Ryan, members of the Disputes 'Committee; and W. Patson, of the Ironworkers’ Union. Detectives later raided the homes of the arrested men and seized a quantity of literature and documents. Subsequently they preferred the additional charge against Kavanagh of being in possession of unlicensed firearms. All the men were charged "with consipracy and admitted to biail of £l5O each. Kavanagh’s bail was increased by £2O on the second charge against him. The information against the seven men charged them (1) with having conspired, with persons unknown to the informant, to “unlawfully, by violence or by threats of violence, prevent persons employed in the timber trade of and in Sydney from exorcising their lawful trade or occupation”; (2) with having conspired “by' unlawful molesting .and intimidating the workmen employed by George Hudson, Limited, to force them, to depart from their employment”; and (3) with having conspired to “riotously assemble together and, with persons unknown, to i assault workmen employed by George i Hudson, Limited.” Ac tion bv the police was prompt and decisive. Inspector Maekay supervised the police arrangements, and was oresent when the officials were charged at the Central Police Station. Using highpowered motor ears, the detectives raided the Trades Hall about 4.80 p.m., and arre'sted Garden, Reeves, Terry and Ryan in their offices. Upon the warrants being presented, the union officials offered no resistance, but ouiotlv left the premises. The visit of the uolico caused a sensation at the Trades Hall. Nows of their presence spread quickly,., and their movements were closely watched. ’ Some union symoatimers followed the police cars to the J central station and awaited the release 1 of the leaders several hours later.

•piu? •■arrest of Pa ton was not without. i*s humorous sidelights. He arrived at the nolice station in company with a 'number of other snectators to watch the proceedings. He was noticed, however, bv Detective-Sergeant Barratt. who, after interrogating him, placed him under arrest. After beiner formallv char<red. the union officials were driven off in sedan cars, some to their homes, others to their offices, where searches wore made bv the notice. The detectives arrested Culnert at his home in Camnerdown, while he was having tea. Thev found TCavanagh confined to his.home with an attach of rnflncnze. At their remiest. he accentnaniod them to the central nolice station, wearing a heavy overcoat.