DISLOYAL UTTERANCE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3093, 25 May 1917, Page 6

DISLOYAL UTTERANCE

COLOl'lll'D MAN CHANGED,

Yesterday afternoon, Jlr L G Heid S.JI., heard Hie euse brought. against James Grant, a coloured man who was tliarged that on April v> he did publi«li a statement to the effect: "I would sooner fight for the German Navy than J. would for Hie , British. Our colour gets wore credit from the Germans than from the British." Mr. t>. W. Jackson, who appeared for. accused, pleaded not guilty. According to the evidence, accused was in the bar of the Masonic Hotel with two soldiers, and there were three other men in the bar. Accused's behaviour in the bar was rather rough, because the barmaid refused to serve him. i constable was sent for, and the accused was told to leave the hotel. He returned later .and got into conversation with the three men who were in the bar, and during this conversation the disloyal utterance was alleged to have been" made. One of those present warned him against making use of such statements, and he was warned that if he uttered them again an information would be laid against him. The accused then left the hotel, and when doing so again made use of the disloyal sentiment. The three men followed him up Ciilin Street and into Ghuznee Street, and when near To Aro Post Office accused turned round ami again uttered the disloyal remarks. The matter was immediately reported to tiie Taranalci Street police. For the defence there was an absolute denial of the words having been used, and if the, words had been used they were not uttered in a spirit, of disloyalty. Accused gave -evidence and denied that he had made use of the words rpfwrcd to in the. information. ■ What he did say was {lint in Germany he bad not becii refused a drink because of his colour. He was born in Oamarii, and had been at sea most of his life. He was not n. disloyal man; as a matter of fact lie had submitted to an operation for varicose veins so that hp might join the forces. The Magistrate* said' ho bad no doubt the. words had been used. ITe would |;-ke into consideration the fact that the mnn had made use of the wordswhen lm uns suffering from annoyance. 'A fine of .£lO, in the alternative two months' imprisonment, was imposed.