ALLEGED SEDITION.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 14596, 4 May 1918, Page 4

ALLEGED SEDITION.

A TALKATIVE. SWEDE. Before Mr. W. A. Barton, S.M., m the Magistrate's Court this morning, John Yonson was charged that on May 3, at j Gisborne, he did make a seditious utterance, to wit, "By hook or by crook, the Germans will win this war and we will then be under their heel," with, intent, to discourage the prosecution of the present war' to a victorious conclusion. The charge-sheet showed the accused to be a native of "Sweden and 58 years of age. Accused was also charged with! insobriety, and fined ss, with 2s costs, m default 24 hours' imprisonment. Sergeant Clarkson said .the accused belonged to the crew of the Ngahere, at present m port, and he had been employed on this vessel for the past five years. In answer to the charge of seditious \itterance, accused said he was drunk, and could not recollect saying the words; ''Thos. .Wm. Kriernen, a retui'ned soldier and station hand, said he was m the Masonic Hotel about 1 p.m. yesterday. Witness saw accused come m and ask the barman for a drink. The barman replied that accused had had enough. Whilst talking to his friends on the subject of the war, the accused passed the remark contained m the charge. Witness could not swear that accused said anything attput the Germans petting us under their heel, but one of the men took exception to the remarks, and said he Trould go and. see a constable. Wi tness felt hurt at the remark^ but put it down as being caused by liMbr. ' . „ . J'redk. Henry, cycle agent, Lowe street, said he saw the accused m the bar, and he heard him, say to the returned soldier and another person, "To — — with women and kids; a man must stick up for his. own country." The person addressed replied, . "Quits right." Witness said to the barman. "Who have we got here?"* The batman said, lf He appears to b© a Fritz." Witness said, "Jokers like that ought to be on Somes island." A little later witness heard accused say, "Take it from me, the Germans will beat them." Witness turned tojthe returned soldier, and said, "That's a fine-. tiling for a returned soldier to sit and listen to." The latter replied, "I can do nothing." Witness went out, having, informed the returned' soldier he would look for a policeman. Witness resented the remarks, and but for a word of,' caution by his friend he would have "taken to him quick and lively." Herbert Aitken (a returned soldier); cellar man at the Masonic Hotel, said accused came m and asked for a drink. Witness advised Mm to go away, as he considered he had had enough. They were talking between themselves, when accused said," "Between you and me, boys, it looks as though the Germans are going to beat us." Witness advised him to go outside if he wished to talk about those things. A constable came m later to see him about it. The magistrate said it was apparent that the accused was drank when the 1 words were used, but the question for him to decide was whether or not the words came under the Seditions Utterances Act. He did not think they did. Accused was discharged, his ; Worship remarking : "You .take my advice ; be more discreet m future and keep away from liquor." .• . ■