CENSOR'S BREACH OP TRUST
THREE YEARS' IMPRISONMENT. Anthony T. Spalding, assistant censor of cables at (lie Press Bureau, was ient to three years' penal servitude at the Old Bailey recently for collecting and communicating information calculated to be useful to the enemy. The hearing was in camera. Mr. Justice Low said that Spalding had been in the habit of sending to a fricim in the country what he called "tit-bits of information, 1 ' many of them most undesirable to send, and' one of such a kind that the Judge could not allow it to bo referred to even iu Court. This friend communicated with others, one of whom .retained copies of the letters. Ultimately ill (he course of their circulation they camo to the knowledge of a Manchester special constable. If this had been done to assist the enemy Spalding's life would have been forfeited. The Judge was.satisfied that it was not done corruptly, otherwise lie would have imposed one of the longest sentences in his power, ilut Spalding was employed in a confidential position. He had said that lie did not get the news in that position, but the Judge could not accept that statement. Persons entrusted with responsible duties ill the Censor's office must observe the highest good faith. Not a word ought to be breathed outside the office in which knowledge hud been acquired. If a censor is found guilty the Court will not weigh the comparative insignificance or importance of the matters involved, but will look only to the breach of faith involved. No leniency would be extended to persons guilty of a similar offence.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19170723.2.9
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Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3143, 23 July 1917, Page 3
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269CENSOR'S BREACH OP TRUST Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3143, 23 July 1917, Page 3
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