"SYDNEY TRUTH,"
THE WELLINGTON PROSECUTION-
Per Press Association.
WELLINGTON, March 20. In the Polioo Court to-day Georges Ewart, stationer, of Manners , street,.. was charged under tli>o Offensive Publiv sations Act with having sold on February 13th a newspaper know as "SydneyTruth," portions of which were alleged: to be of an indecent, immoral, and oh— soene nature. The information was laid, by the police. Mr. Myers prosecuted^, and Mr.- Dunn defended. John Norton,, proprietor, and publisher jof. the paper,* was present. ' Mr._ Myers explained'that* the charge was laid in respect of a, copy of the paper of January 29, which waspurchased by a deltective from defendant, and particularly in respect of articles headed "A Salacious She," "An Awful Allegation," "Melbourne Abduction* Affair," and^othiers. It might be said; that the articles were records of Police Court proceedings, but that excusewould not hold good rin regard to all ofr them. If it did, it had to be remem-, bened that things might be said in a Court of law which it. "would be indecent to publish. The only eyidencefor the prosecution was that of Detec^ tive Boddam. Mr; Dunn, for. the defence, raised the preliminary objection that imeus rea on the part of defendant, had jbo tie proved before convictionoouldL ba recorded. Tho defendant wouldiswear he was not aware of tine contenit&of the paper. Counsel also submittedthat if the mattecr was to ba "viewed in ai, moral light, the Bible jand hundreds o£"-.-: other books sold in open market:were^ also open to; prosecution.; The diefen<je? ; was a justification of t!he paper^; i-andt/ that theire ,was aiotihing obeoene in .it^. John Noi-toh^ called, said aill the arti- • cles were coiTect" reports of Court proK-^ •ceedingg. '•• . -. '. ...,..• ...'..:,. v ":'':-.,3". The defendant eleebedi to be tiled by- ■»■ jur y> and the Magistrate said^jhe'•; would give his decision Ton. tho' poinfe •; raised by .Mr. Dunit <>n Thureday^mdrai^ ,-; ing, when he. will" also" say if _& .iprinT^>-: facie case has been made <xut.'•■-,' : ;«. ''I&'.~*'';-'-!
"SYDNEY TRUTH,"
Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XLIX, Issue 12458, 21 March 1905, Page 5
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