20 DAYS IN BOX.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20234, 19 February 1934, Page 1

20 DAYS IN BOX.

Inspector Braisby Finishes Evidence. NELSON TRIAL CONTINUES. (Special to the Press Association. By radio.) (Received February 19. 10 am.) APIA, February 16. The trial of O. F Xelson for alleged sedition was continued to-day. Inspector Braifbv produced copies of articles from the “ Samoan Guardian,”

signed with the pen names of Nelson and also the single initial *’ T,” and similar documents found at Tuaefu. He alleged that they were of the same authorship. He proceeded to read articles attacking the administration of Samoa. Witness alleged that seme, written

by defendant, were misleading and deceptive, and others were straight-out lies. The latter referred to the allegations published overseas that on the occasion o_' the fatalities in 1929, three machine-guns were trained on the so-called trap, snipers were posted and police were hidden up a side lane, that no warning was given to the natives, and that the police provoked a fracas by attempting to arrest the bandsmen. These and similar reports were read in Samoa and elsewhere. Inspector Braisby declared that they were utterly untrue. He cited statements alegedl> made by Nelson which had an evil influence, such as the assertion that New Zealand was more aggressive in Samoa than Japan in Manchuria. He read numerous savage criticisms of the Government and the policy of the Administrator, containing misleading accusations of a military dictatorship and slaughter of innocent natives. Extracts from “ Guardian.” Inspector Braisby was proceeding to read extracts from the vernacular supplement of the “ Samoan Guardian ” of December last, allegedly written by defendant after his arrest, when Nelson objected, but he was over-ruled, and Inspector Braisby proceeded. Referring to the statement that a machinegun was hidden under a tarpaulin on the occasion of the police search at Tuaefu, he said that this was untrue. He alleged that the article continued with deceptive remarks concerning the Judge’s action in recent cases, and misstatements regarding facts publicly known at the time it was written. Witness said that Nelson's contention that the news in the “ Guardian ” was always true and should be read by Samoans of both sexes was a harmful one. He read a letter from the Prime Minister to Nelson prior to his departure for New Zealand containing a warning that on further interference by defendant in Samoan affairs, action would be taken. He also read a declaration made by Nelson on the day of his return, undertaking to observe the laws of the territory. This concluded Inspector Braisby’s evidence. He had been twenty days on the witness stand. Native’s Evidence. Une -Kekekellio, a Mau committee member, who is at present in prison, stated that Nelson was the Mau adviser. It was customary for the Mau to send a matter to Tuaefu for Nelson’s advice, and committee members called and discussed recent malagas. The proposed numbers of the malagas were reduced on Nelson’s instructions. Witness heard Nelson tell the Mau that malagas w r ere no breach of the | law unless there were too many members. The Mau accepted this. Later the men were arrested. Witness was present at Tuaefu during the discussions of Mau business. The subjects were not known prior to arrival. Only the leaders knew. Witness was a reader of the “ Guardian ” and believed the foreign news in it. It stated that there were Maus in Ireland, India and other places. Cross-examined, witness stated that Nelson held no office in the Mau at the time of his deportation. He was later sent power-of-attorney to present a petition to Geneva and to attend to Mau affairs overseas. ( lie had heard defendant, since his return, express the wish to rest. The Mau desired Nelson as its leader. All matter for publication in the “ Guardian ” was sent to Tuaefu.