TWELVE MONTHS!

NZ Truth, Issue 602, 30 December 1916, Page 6

TWELVE MONTHS !

James Thorn's Sentiments Magistrate Cutten has No Difficulty m Coming to a Conclusion. The Magistrate's Court at Auckland was crowded on Friday afternoon of last week, when James Thorn was charged under section 4 of the War Regulations with using seditious utterances at the Globe Theatre on December 10. Thorn, who is a journalist, and who was connected with "The Maoriland Worker," was not represented by counsel, and pleaded not guilty. The Hon. J. A. Tole, K.C., conducted the prosecution and m outlining the facts said that Thorn was a iabot' agitator, and together with others, took a leading part m the agitation against conscription. On December 10 -he was billed to speak on "NEW ZEALAND AND THE WAR," but his speech was almost confined to conscription . Amongst other things, Thorn denounced the New Zealand Parliament, the Governor-in-Council, the Military Service Act, which was m other words effective military preparation. . Mr. Tole went on to say that the circumstances surrounding the .address pointed to a concerted attack. on compulsory military training, because addresses on similar lines were delivered by colleagues of accused's on the same day m other centres. Thorn was quite aware di the position he was m because he himself had stated when making his speech that he was going to make a statement which he feared might make him a convict or lead him into a. breach of the War Regulations. As a matter of fact Thorn had said he would have to be miraculously careful not to commit a breach of the Regrrlatfons. Mr. Tole then read several extracts from the speech delivered by Thorn at the GJobe Theatre. Frederick W. Weston, reporter, gave evidence as to taking shorthand notes of the speech delivered by Thorn and subsequently transcribing them. The extracts In the charge were '^ PART OF THORN'S SPEECH. Constables Smither and Doel. gave evidence as to being present at the Globe Theatre on the occasion m question and referred to certain statements made by Thorn. Accused did not cross-examine' but said he wished to make a statement. Magistrate Cutten said accused would not have to make a general speech after the character of the one made at the Globe, ami all that he had to do was either to deny that lie made the statements contained m the charge, or that they v/ero not made In breach of the War Regulations. Thorn then began to state his objections to war, but he was 1 pulled up by the Magistrate. Accused said he admitted that the report of the speech was correct, bvit said that the opinion J was held by those ! , OPPOSHD TO CONSCRIPTION j that the rrar.cttcd Regulations did not j make it iliocul to put forth argument ; m urging: the ronoal of tho Military Service Act. Accused hurt very little to sny. and Magistrate Cutten remarked that ho had very littlw difficulty m convicting accused, lie had to consider the fact that not only was the commission of the offence deliberate, but tho speech included ji number of" breaches of different claußec of tho Regulations. Not only was 'the offence srrious, but It was deliberate, and this being so it mJght be repeated. It mljrht be that In an offence such as this accused might Jje released from prison if iho war ontfed before the v> l-...!c Kt*nien<-<- was strveil, j but his Worship did not. know if thi;? was so or i-.ot. At'ou,:rU would be Ecntenced to twelve months' imprisonment. !