INCITING TO MUTINY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 279, 25 November 1931, Page 9

INCITING TO MUTINY

TWO YEARS’ GAOL. SEQUEL TO PROSECUTION. LONDON, Nov. 23. As a sequel to tho Daily Worker prosecution Frank Paterson, aged 26, was convicted at the Old Baily of inciting to mutiny and was sentenced to two years* hard labour. Paterson fled to Germany when the police inquiries began and was arrested upon his return. On October 21 W. T. Wilkinson was convicted of endeavouring to stir up mutiny, but not guilty of conspiring with others associated on the Daily Worker. Mr. Justice Hawke said: “I am told that you are doing this for money.” In view of Wilkinson’s age (68) he was sentenced to nine months in the second division. Following a visit of Scotland Yard officials to the offices of tho Communist newspaper, the Daily Worker, in September, William Thomas Wilkinson, printer, was charged at Bow Street with inciting a mutiny. The Magistrate remarked that the case was a serious one. He granted bail on Wilkinson undertaking that nothing would appear in tho meanwhile in the Dailv Worker with reference to the armed forces of the Crown. On October 2 Wilkinson was committed for trial at Bow Street for conspiring with others responsible for tho Daily Worker, not only to break a section of the Act, but also to incite others to do likewise. Sir Percival Clarke, prosecuting, quoted from the Daily Worker: “Build up a united front, workers, soldiers, sailors, and members of the Air Force.” The Daily Worker added: ”Now, reader, what about handing this copy to r, soldier, sailor, or airman?” Sir P. Clarke continued that it was not only an incitement to His Majesty’s forces to mutiny but an incitement to others to act similarly.