SEDITIOUS UTTERANCE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3108, 12 June 1917, Page 6

SEDITIOUS UTTERANCE

THREE MONTHS' IMPRISON-

MENT

FOR VISITOR TO THE CITY

On Saturday evening last some woinon and children gathered in JJoulcott Street near the Soldiers' Hostel and sane patriutiu tongs with a view of helping their art union in connection with tho Crippled Soldiers' Hostel i'und, and drew an immense crowd. In this crowd, standing on tho footpath, was John lames Lawless, a stranger to the City, but a man holding pronounced views with respect to the present war. Near him were some eoldiers, and tho conversation turned on .tho present conflict and tho success of the New Zealanders at Messines. Lawless soon began expressing his special views on the war, which annoyed those near him, and someone happened to mention the matter to Conetable Cunningham, who was in plain clothes. The constable went up. to Lawless ftnd warned him of his position, and advised' him 1o desist. Lawless, however, scorned determined to air his opinions, and ho was hoard to eay: I will speak my mind. You mean to say you will ro and shoot down men for a lot of money-sharks. They nro mothers' sons, tho same as you. You are rotters to do it. I will never go and do it myself, and will stop everyono I can from doing it. All men havo brothers and sisters and old fathers, and you would go and shoot, them, would you, you rotters. I for tho money-shark? You would ehoot men for them, would you? Tho sequel to tins was that Lawless appeared in tho Magistrate's Court yesterday before Mr. L. C x . Heid, s!m., chaj-ged with making a seditious utterance, also with assaulting Constable Cunningham and obstructing Constable Frost while in tho execution of his I duty. Constable Cunuinßiiam gave dotails of the matter as recorded above, and stated that when he attempted to arreet the accused the latter resisted violently. Later, Constable Frost camo to his assistance, and still later Constables Wilson and Wallace. Accused was eventually secured and handcuffed and taken to tho Taranati Street Police S'tation. followed by a, largo crowd. On the way tonic person mado repeated attempts to butt the constable, Constables I'rost, Wilson and Wallace cave corroborative ovidence, and James Mallett, a bootmaker, who was present on tho occasion, supported tho story

detailed by tko policemen. The accused, iu a statement which, ho made in a strident voice, 6aid he was standing on the footpath and there wore some soldiers around him. Re entered into a friendly conversation with them and said to them: "If you go to the war and kill a hundred men you will be heroes when you come back; but if you kill a man in peace tirao vou -will be called murderers. What is the difference?" Tho police came up then, and from accused's account of the subsequent proceedings he wanted the Magistrate to believe that he was very much ill-used by the police.

The Magistrate concluded that on tbo evidence accused must bo convicted. For tho seditions utterance lie was sontencod to three months' imprisonment, for asfaulting Constable Cunningham he was fined 205., in default seven days' imprisonment, and the third charge, of resisting Constable Frost was dismissed.

TRAM CONDUCTOR CHARGED. Arising out of the above incident a team conductor named Mark Atw-all was charged with obstructing Constable Wil6OU while in tho execution of his duty. Atwall was standing pit the corner of Cuba and Manners Streets when he saw the- constable taking Lawless to the polico station, with a crowd following. Hβ joined in, and, according to the'evidence of the constables, lie made two attempts to trip Constable AVilson and pulled the hitter's coat.

Mr. P. W. Jackson appeoa'ed for accused and stated that the man might have done a foolish thing- in saying to the -polioenian: "You are stiff, aren't tou?" but there was no intention to obstruct. The expression wag in common use amongst the conductors. Accused gave evidence in support of counsel's statement.

The Magistrate recorded a conviction and Ened accused 205., in default eereu days imprisonment.