NOT GUILTY

Hokitika Guardian, 29 March 1933, Page 6

NOT GUILTY

FINDING OF COURT-MARTIAL,

CASE OF LIEUT. STEWART

(United Press Association —By F.ectrio

Telegraph-—Copyright)

(Received March 29 at 11.15 a. 111.) LONDON, March 28.

In the Stewart court-martial, in accordance with recommendation by the Judge Advocate, Air Patrick Graeme, that’ the court should find Stewart not guilty on three charges, namely of attempting to collect, attempting to obtain and attempting to communicate certain information, the court found him not guilty on these charges. The remaining seven will be promulgated after reference to the higher authorities.

Mir Graeme, continuing, said the without the letters, the court would probably hesitate before deciding that the three visits to Hoc ami entailed treachery, but still, the phraseology of the letters was wholly unreal, while Stewart described them as a subterfuge to hide his discreditable association.

The prosecution contended that reward for ignomiuy was therefore the key to the whole ease. Air -Graeme explained that conviction was impossible if information were accidentally op indiscreetly divulged. Treacherous intent must be established. Similarly, the court must be convinced 1 regarding the charge that Stewart collected information for a purpose prejudicial to the State. The Court was absent for two and a- .half., hours.. ...'Stewart, pale • and anxious, stood mox/t while Mr Dugan read the saluted smartly and was rernQygd o( |rom the building in custody.