TRIAL OF NELSON BEGINS

Taranaki Daily News, 20 December 1933, Page 7

TRIAL OF NELSON BEGINS

ALLEGED MAU ACTIVITIES

LETTERS SEIZED DURING RAID.

QUESTION OF ADMISSIBILITY.

COURT OVERRULES OBJECTION.

(By Radio.) Rec. 5.5 p.m. Apia, Dec. 18. Hearing of the charges against the Hon. O. F. Nelson of activities in connection with the Mau opened to-day, Mr. Klinkmueller appearing for the defence and Mr. McCarthy for the police. Mr. McCarthy in his address made reference to letters seized by the police at Tuaefu. The defence objected to the admission of other than documents signed by Nelson, but the objection was overruled where letters were found in the possession of Nelson and involved and connected him with Mau activities. Abstracts from the documents were read by Mr. McCarthy in his opening. The charges against Nelson are that he:— (1) Identified himself with the Mau, a seditious organisation. (2) Used his premises for a meeting held by a seditious organisation. (3) Attended and took part in a formal gathering of Samoans known as the Taalolo in contravention of the maintenance of authority in the Native Affairs Ordinance.

(4) Participated in the activities of a seditious organisation by meeting and advocating with members of the Mau and by advising and assisting such members. (5) Aided, abetted and encouraged the activities, of the Mau in letters and articles in the newspaper Samoa Guardian, commonly known as a Mau newspaper. (6) Addressed a meeting at Vaimosa held for the purposes of seditious’ organisation.

(7) Had in his possession certain documents and other papers relating to Mau activities.