PRIMA FACIA CASE OF HIGH TREASON

Chronicle (Levin), 30 August 1946, Page 5

PRIMA FACIA CASE OF HIGH TREASON

MAJOR COUSENS COM1V1ITTED FOR TRIAL Rect'ivcd Thwrstbiv, 9.5 p.m. SYDNLY, A ng. 29. A di'cision 1 li :i t :i pnwiu fxn-it* casv oi' high trc:iM)ii liml Ih'Ch maib* utu against Major Charlo.s llughc.- i 'ou. ■\s ilh imuIh by the .M agist ra! e, M r. Carrington, at ihe Ceiilrnl Court today. Major Cousems denied his »uilt :uid asked for an adjouniiiieiil lo enable hioi to maka a Mai emenr in def'ence and «• a 1 1 e\ ideni-e. When an adjourmnent lill Septeiiiber 9 was grnnled, Mr. .1. W. Slmnd, for Major Cousens, nniiounced tliat 011 1 hui date, irrespeclixe o. tio* nppennun-e oi other witnesses, .Major t 'uiist'iis would give PvideTwe. When Ihe eighlh day of the c-ase oppned ihe cross-exuminat ion of Captain George Guysi lontimied. Addressing tlie Court, .Mr. Sliand said the ease was unique in British Empire history. The onns was on tlie Crown to establish that the charge of broadrasting involved in tent ion. To be guilty of treason Major Cousens had to be guilty of intention to conuait a treasonable aet. On the faets disclosed it eould not be eont eniplated that auv jury would iind treason, tlrst froni the fact that .Major Cousens was mider adinitted \ eoercion, iind secondlv, because of tlie j ua ture of the commentaries. The Magistrate said that at tlie out- j set the proseeution had outlined five grounds in support of tlie charge. Kvi- j dence had been given 011 those grounds i 11 was not- for him to decide whether j jr jhry iwotild' eohvict. His duty was to' j" le(-i(lii.{\vltetlie;r ay%iriu^i "ftp-io ease lvjtcil J been lifade out. ">"V f ! .Major Cousens''-' tliCn pleaded not guilty.