DISLOYAL STATEMENTS.

North Otago Times, Volume CV, Issue 13927, 9 July 1917, Page 8

DISLOYAL STATEMENTS.

SENTENCE OF ELEVEN MONTHS' IMPRISONMENT. ' (Per Press Association.) ' AUCKLAND, July (j. In the Magistrate's Court, William John Bell was charged with a breach of the war regulations by publishing statements which indicated disloyalty and disaffection. The charge was"based on certain statements of an extreme character relating to the British nation,

The Hon. J. A. Tole, Crown prosecutor, said the charge arise out of accused circulating between POO and 100(1 topics of two pamphlets, one draling willi his own life, and the other written in l!) 04, abusing the late Mr Joseph Chamberlain. These pamphlets were posted to several leading citizens in Auckland, including the Bishop of Auckland, Mr E. C. Cuttcn, S.M., anil tho Mayor of Auckland. The words contained in the charge were written on leaflets received by Mr Guiison. Reference was also made by Air Tole to a letter which the accused bad posted to one Greene, at To Toko. As the addressee could not, be found, the missive was relumed to the dead letter office, The letter was opened, and the contents were so startling that it was handled to the police, Mr Tole read various passages from the letter which, he remarked, denoted "1.W.W," tendencies on the part of accused, It was suggested that many of the men in sympathy with I.W.W. methods should join a religious body and work

sabotage and fire-raising. Accused admitted circulating tho pamphlets and writing anil posting, the letter to Green. He sent some half .1 dozen leallcts to prominent men, who, he considered, would not be disaffected by reading the remarks they contained. The balance of the documents were distributed amongst the better educated people of the working class. Accused said political motives actuated him m sending the pamphlets. * Mr Frazer, S.M., said the reference to the British ' nation was a mobt sweeping, condemnation of the whole race, and disloyalty -was clearly indicated in accused's expressions. The letter written to Green was an indication of accused's state of mind. If the recipient of such a letter were a weak man, and he read it without much thought, the document would do inconceivable harm, The accused was sentenced to eleven months' imprisonment without hard labour, IS*"' ~