TRADING WITH THE ENEMY

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2540, 14 August 1915, Page 6

TRADING WITH THE ENEMY

FINE OF £10 IMPOSED. • By Telegraph.—l'ress' ; Association. Masterton, August 13. In . the Magistrate's. Court _ to-day, Carl Nicolaus Eckhart, who claimed to bo a liativo of Berne, was charged before Mr. L. G. lleid, S.M., -with having attempted to trade with the editor of a newspaper published _ in Stuttgart, Germany, in contravention of the regulations in force during the war with Germany. Tho evidence showed that accused sent a letter to_ Switzerland, enclosing another letter for {lio editor of the German newspaper, relating to tho continuation of subscription to the paper. His Worship said that it must he impressed upon defendant that to commit a breach of the War Regulations Act by attempting to communicate with the enemy was a very serious offenoe. In the present case there was • no evidence that the defendant had.attempted to' give any information which would he of use to the enemy. His Worship said he would also take into consideration that the defendant had heen. perfectly frank in regard to the writing of the letters. At the same time the War Regulations. must_bo strictly observed. Under the Act defendant was liable to a long term of imprisonment, but in this case His Worship would inflict a fine. Defendant would be fined £10, in default one mouth's imprison-, iceut. . .