GUILTY OF PERJURY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27358, 6 April 1950, Page 7

GUILTY OF PERJURY

Australian Born Union President HEARING IN AMERICA SAN FRANCISCO, Rec. 7 p.m. Apl. 4. The Australian-born Harry Bridges was today convicted of perjury. He was found guilty of perjury in that he lied at his 1945 naturalisation hearing when he said under oath that he was not, and never had been, a Communist. Bridges, president of the Longshoremen’s Union, was also found guilty of having conspired with two others to have Bridges fraudulently petition for and obtain naturalisation with a false oath. Henry Schmidt and J. R. Robertson, two members of the executive of the Longshoremen’s Union, who were witnesses at Bridges’s naturalisation hearing, were found guilty of conspiracy to have Bridges fraudulently petition for, and obtain, naturalisation with a false oath. Schmidt and Robertson were found guilty of aiding and abetting a felony—perjury. A jury of eight men and four women returned the verdicts during the fifth day of deliberation. They had been in the jury room a total of 31 hours considering the evidence given during the 81-day trial. Defence counsel said later there would be an appeal. Each of the three men is subject to a maximum of seven years’ imprisonment and a fine of 15,000 dollars. Bridges also faces cancellation of the citizenship he obtained in 1945 and deportation.

The court adjourned briefly after the jury returned the verdicts. When the court resumed, the defence counsel moved for a delay in the sentence and for a retrial. The court fixed April 10 for hearing the submissions on the defence motion. ■ Defence Counsel Sentenced

Judge George Harris later sentenced the defence counsel, Vincent Hallinan, for contempt. Hallinan was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment for contempt on a citation issued seven days after the trial began on November 14. He was sentenced to another six‘months for “misconduct during the rest of the trial.” The judge said the sentences would be concurrent. James Maclnnis, Hallinan’s associate, was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment for contempt. Judge Harris said Hallinan had “affronted the dignity of the court’ and his profession.” Hallinan and Maclnnis will be permitted freedom without bail pending commitment, which probably will be delayed as long as they press for appeals in the cases of Bridges and the two executives of the Longshoremen’s Union, Schmidt and Robertson.