M'MAHON CASE

Wairarapa Daily Times, 1 August 1936, Page 5

M'MAHON CASE

ACCUSED GIVES EVIDENCE COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. Press Association Electric Telegraph—CioDyrighl LONDON, Friday. At the resumption of the trial of George Andrew McMahon on charges arising out of the episode on tho occasion of the King’s procession in London on 16th July, McMahon himself was the only witness called for the defence. He gave lengthy evidence regarding the persecution to which he considered ho had been subjected. He denied having ever intended to harm his Majesty, but said he had thought of shooting himself. Ho threw the pistol and it “slithered along the footway.” He said he did not throw it in the direction of his Majesty’s ‘horse. McMahon was committed for trial on all three charges. FURTHER EVIDENCE. UNDERLINED WORDS IN LETTER. (Received Saturday, 10.50 a.m.) LONDON, Friday.

McMahon said when he underlined the words “within fourteen hours” in a letter to Sir John Simon that he was not thinking of something which might happen at the review of the Guards. He had intended to call at Sir John Simon’s private house but thought he would be arrested for interfering with his privacy . McMahon declared the police evidence, that he rushed forward on to the road before the revolver left his hand, as ridiculous, as he was. lame and could not rush/

Replying to the Attorney-General’s suggestions that the und rimed words in the letter to Sir John Simon meant that he intended to demonstrate at the Guard’s ceremony, McMahon insisted that he merely resolved to force an interview with Sir John Simon as he felt that he would then consider his case as he had been given to understand that Sir John Simon had never seen his appeal. Cross-examining McMahon, the Attor-ney-General asked: “In order to make a gesture on an occasion of this kind isn’t it quite unnecessary to use a loaded revolver?”

McMahon: “It came on me sudd-n-Iv. It is so easy in the light of after events to imagine what one should have done. My mind was disturbed at the time.”

The Attorney-General: “If you had had not intended to endanger life you could have used other things.” McMahon: “I wish I had had some advice in the matter. If His Majesty had known he would certainly have looked into the matter.” The Attorney-General asked if the words, “I could easily have shot the King but threw it instead,” did not slioav that the idea of shooting at the King had entered his head. McMahon: “No, sir.” Mr Ivcrestein, addressing the Court, said that the witnesses were agreed that no one saw McMahon either point his revolver of make an attempt on anyone’s life. McMahon had every opportunity of doing so. The fact that he did not is overwhelming evidence that lie had no such intention. Mr Kerestein said that he would not submit that McMahon should not be committed with respect to the treason charges as there was some evidence on which tho jury ought to decide whether he intended to alarm the King or cause a breach of the peace. He asked, however, that McMahon should not bo committed on tho firearms charge.

The Attorney-General asked for a Committal on all charges, which the Magistrate granted. Driving rain doubtless contributed to the lack of interest on the resumption of the McMahon case.

Mr Kerstein announced that he was calling no witnesses. The prisoner limped to the box. He said that he had communicated certain information to Scotland Yard in 1933, ps a result of which he was dismissed from the secretaryship of the Sports Club and arrested on a charge of criminal libel and sentenced to a year's imprisonment. The conviction was quashed on appeal after 31 months’ imprisonment. The publicity in connection with the trial prevented him from obtaining employment. IN hen he was released he asked the Home Office for compensation which was refused. For this reason he petitioned the King in August, 3934. ; ’ Speaking in a low tone with a slight Scottish accent. McMahon denied that he had ever communicated with the late or the present King, or any other authority, threatening life. He obtained a revolver at the end of 1935 because ho was doing certain work and imparting information to the authorities which necessitated the carrying of a revolver for his own safety. He always kept it loaded in four chambers in his left-hand trousers pocket, leaving one chamber empty because he was' told that there was thus no possibility of it being accidentally discharged. He never fired this or any other revolver.