QUESTION OF BAIL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11892, 29 December 1916, Page 7

QUESTION OF BAIL.

'A "WELLINGTON CASE. p?Kft Press Association.] WELLINGTON, December 28. Peculiar circumstances attended a case called on at 'the Magistrates Court this morning before two justices. A young man, Maurice Hope, was charged with having made use oi disloyal utterances, the words being as xollo\vs • '' To • with King and country. I would not light for anyone. I have no time for men wearing red bands on their arm. They aro fools." Defendant was wearing a military "unfit" armlet when he appeared 111 Detective-Sergeant Cox in for a. remand, mentioned that the case was one which had to bo 'taken beforo & DeSdant s 'asked for bail. that he was a married man withi three young children and was as patriotic as anvbody. Ho also mentioned that he had unsuccessfully 'tried to enlist on three occasions, and that ho had •. of ten cows in full v » m ,, Without waiting for the P£ ,lce T j T of defendant's application. the Bench granted bail to defendant in £oo, and one surety in a similar sum. Detective-Sergeant Cox said he must strenuously oppose granting bail, ana drew the attention of the Bench to the fact that in similar charges previously bail had always been refused. the words complained of were made "so or on December 8 in the Imperial Hotel, where defendant was in company with some returned soldiers who were wearing their badges. The remarks were resented, and a disturbance seemed o bo imminent. Defendant ran away a nd was chased by tho soldiers, but escaped. Defendant at the time was wearing_ a blue badge with the letters^" No "on it, an Australian anti-conscription badge. " A riot might easily have occurred, added the detective-sergeant, " and under the circumso,:aces I must oppose granting bail." The Bench took ;bho view that had the words been made use of when defendant was sober or in a more public place the case might have been different. Bail would be allowed, and the case adjourned until January 4.