SEDITIOUS UTTERANCES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3315, 26 September 1917, Page 7

SEDITIOUS UTTERANCES.

NELSON, September 20. Jan Pietersen, a fireman, and a member of the crew of the Port Kembla, describing himself as a Dutchman, was arrested just before the crew left for Wellington this morning. He was later charged before Mr A. A. Lucas, J.P., under the War Regulations of December, 1916, that ho published certain seditious utterances in the Wakatu Hotel—viz., that ho loved the Kaiser; that he would fight his best for the Kaiser; that he would kiss the Kaiser; and (imitating the act of spitting) that he would do that to the English. The accused said ho had had too much drink. It was explained to the accused that no magistrate would be sitting at Nelson until October 4, but that if ho intended to plead guilty he could be sent to Wellington and dealt with there at an early date. The accused said he would plead guilty, and was remanded to appear at Wellington on Monday. It appears that the accused was in the Wakatu Hotel parlour shortly before closing time last night, and several peonlo in the room heard the utterances. The matter was reported to tho police, and Pietersen was arrested this morning.