M'MAHON TRIAL

Wairarapa Daily Times, 15 September 1936, Page 5

M'MAHON TRIAL

A LIGHT SENTENCE 12 MONTHS’ HARD LABOUR. Press Association Electric Telegranh Copyright LONDON, Monday. A long queue formed outside the Old Bailey two hours before the Court assembled to try George Andrew McMahon. Many well-known society avomen Avere among the privileged ones in the special gallery. Three Ai r omen Avere included in the jury. McMahon pleaded not guilty to all three charges of unhawfully possessing a firearm AA-itli intent to endanger peace and of wilfully producing a pistol near his Majesty’s person Avitli intent to alarm him.

The under-sheriff, picturesquely dressed in a velvet jacket and tAvo aldermen in blue robes and carrying posies of floAvers preceded the crimson-robed Judge. The Attorney-General outlined the case for the CroAvn, the details' of Avhieh were already related in Bow Street, on 31st July. Explaining the words “May I love you, ’ ’ written on a neAvs Avire the prisoner carried, the • Attorney-General pointed out that May Avas the name of his Avife. He added that the prisoner threw a loaded reA'olver at his Majesty as he Avas passing him. It either hit the leg of the horse or fell so near that more than one AAntness thought the horse’s leg Avas, actually hit. The point, perhaps, did not matter. An unloaded chamber of the revolver Avas opposite the barrel but Avith this type of revolver, pulling the trigger Avould turn the chamber so that it Avould actually go off. HoAvever, perhaps the prisoner did not appreciate this and it might be that having 'left the chamber unloaded he thought one pull of the trigger Avould not discharge the revolA'er.

Samuel Green, a retired journalist, said lie suav the prisoner look repeatedly at a post-card of the King in Coronation robes. Later he suav the shadoAV of a hand—a backhand throAv—and then saw the pistol at the horse’s hind legs. Later lie picked up a neAvspaper McMahon had carried.

Cross-examined, witness admitted that all he saAV Avas a shadow. Constable Flood gave evidence that he turned his horse to face the King as the procession passed, heard a scuffle and saAV the accused' overpoAvered by the police. He did not see the throAving of the revolver. Special Constable Dick said he suav the prisoner’s hand in the air, just managed to knock his arm, then seized him. He could not say Avhether, when he knocked the arm, an object left it. Asked if he suav anything throivn, Dick replied: “Yes, it looked like a black object.” Mr St. John Hutchinson, counsel for McMahon, asked the Judge if he Avas. prepared! to give an immediate decision on the Attorney-General’® submission. The Judge said he Avould not decide till he heard counsel. It seemed better to discuss the meaning of the Act Avlien the' evidence had been disclosed. Mr St. John Hutchinson replied that he Avould make a submission at the' end of the prosecution’s case. The Attorney-General said McMahon had made several statements, one of Avhieh Avas: “I could easily have shot the King if I had Avanted to.” The Attorney-General contended that McMahon’s offence amounted to presenting a Aveapon, AAfliile, on the question of intent, it was difficult to imagine any act more calculated to create a disturbance. It Avas not necessary to inquire Avhat Avas in the prisoner’s mind and still less to inquire whether his Majesty Avas alarmed. Intent to alarm Avas inherent in the act itself. The Judge directed a verdict of not guilty on the first two counts. FOUND GUILTY. INTENT TO ALARM KING. (Received Tuesday, 9.15 a.m.) LONDON, Monday. McMahon was sentenced to tAvelve months’ hard labour. McMahon Avas found guilty of Avilfully producing a pistol near his Majesty’s person, Avith intent to alarm him. McMahon in evidence said that a foreign .PoAver asked him to shoot the King at the Trooping of the Colour for £l5O. He immediately informed the War Office. McMahon added: “I Avant to go to prison. Give me the heaviest possible sentence. Only by remaining in prison can I save my life from the people I have given aAvay.”

SENSATIONAL DEVELOPMENT. A FOREIGN POWER ACCUSED. (Received Tuesday, 10.45 a.m.) LONDON, Monday. A sensational development occurred at the trial when McMahon gave evidence that a foreign Power had asked him to do espionage work at the end of October, 1935, and suggested that lie shoot the King at the Trooping of the Colour, for which lie would receive £l5O. McMahon immediately informed the War Office. The foreign Power told him that if the plot failed the King would be shot in France. McMahon continually reported progress to the War Office from which he received no remuneration. He took money from the foreign Power and gave a number of notes to the War Office. McMahon admitted that what the witnesses had said about the incident was substantially true. “I threw the pistol along the ground because I did not want to shoot,” he said. He did not want to alarm the King but rather to save him. Mr Hutchinson: “Was that the only way you could protect him?” McMahon: “Yes, otherwise the agents of the foreign Power might have carried out the act themselves.” McMahon also stated that he was

introduced to the foreign PoAver by an English member of a political body, having the same objects as the foreign Government. He met a certain baron at the Embassy avlio suggested that their system of Government Avas better. The baron mentioned certain parts of the Empire Avhieh Avould be handed over to them if the King Avas not in poAver. McMahon said that he told his solicitor that the plotters intended to make a second attempt on the King’s life during his holiday in France, and the solicitor informed the authorities. POLICE ATTACKED. * FOR LACK OF PRECAUTION. (Received Tuesday, 11.45 a.m.) LONDON, Monday! Asked AA 7 hy he did not disclose the plot before McMahon said: “I kept quiet in order to catch the men engaged in the plot. There Avas one of them in court this morning. The Attorney-General suggested that the plot Avas the product of his imagination. McMahon, in a dramatic fashion, replied: “I Avisli to God it Avere.” To a question referring to tlie £IOOO demanded by accused before handing over the information, McMahon said he wanted to guarantee that his Avife AA'ould be looked after if he threAV aAvay his life. He said that an offer was made to him to plead guilty in order to hide the bungling of others. The Attorney-General: “Nobody Avants to hide anything. ’ ’ Mr Hutchinson, for McMahon, said that one of the most striking features of the ease Avas that the police did not seem to have kept McMahon under observation. A frightful tragedy might have resulted had McMahon been serious. Counsel felt that he Avas entitled to think that the police might have had at least one man following McMahon. Summing up, the Judge said that the jury might conclude that McMahon acted Avithout intention to alarm, but merely to deceive those employing him. The jury retired and in ten minutes returned Avith a verdict of guilty.

The Judge, imposing sentence, said that he Avas satisfied that McMahon did not intend to harm the King. The prisoner Avas one of those misguided persons Avho thought that notoriety drew attention to their grievances.

The Judge 7 paid a tribute to the impartiality of the police. Mr Hutchinson liasi not decided Avhether to appeal.