CASE DISMISSED.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 643, 22 December 1932, Page 11

CASE DISMISSED.

Sale of Literature at a Meeting. The executive chairman of the Christchurch branch of the Friends of the Soviet Union, Daniel Jones, of Wyon Street, appeared before Mr E. D. Mosley, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court this morning. He pleaded not guilty to a charge of aiding in the commission of an offence, in that he helped Grace Heatley, under the age of eighteen, to sell newspapers in a public place, the Civic Theatre. Sub-Inspector Edwards said that the charge was laid under the City By-Law 4, Section 20. On Sunday, November 6, a public meeting was held in the Civic Theatre, when an address was delivered by Mrs W. N. Pharazyn, under the auspices of the Friends of the Soviet Union. Detective Laugeson attended the meeting, and saw a boy and girl selling literature. The detective paid 3d, and receive! a copy of “ The Soviet News” published in New Zealand, and a registered newspaper. Accused, who was literary secretary to the Friends, admitted that he was responsible for the distribution of the papers. Detective N. W. Laugeson said that the by-law prohibited the sale of newspapers by a boy under fourteen years or a girl under eighteen years. In answer to a question from Jones, the detective said that he (the accused) was chairman for the executive o f the Friends of the Soviet Union, and was generally known as a leading light in the organisation. The paper was printed in Wellington and sold throughout New Zealand. Jones then began a long interrogation of Detective Laugeson, but he was interrupted by the Magistrate. " I am trying to prbve,” said Jones, “ that the police case is based on the evidence of infants.” The Magistrate: I have found in many cases that the evidence of children is more reliable than that of grown-ups. The case was dismissed.