Seditious Utterance.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1743, 2 August 1917, Page 3

Seditious Utterance.

SIX MONTHS’ IMPRISONMENT GIVEN. “DIRECT INSULT TO THE FLAG,” “This is ;i din cl insult in th<’ liny, to those .lighting al I lie front, and to those people who have friends ami relatives lighting (hen-. It ’s a gross insult.” These remarks were made by .Mr J. G. L. Hewitt. 5.. M., in liie M agist rale ’s Court this morning when lie sentenced Fred Lloyd, a labourer residing at Kaetihi, to six months ’ imprisonment in Wellington prison. Two charges had been preferred against accused — one of having used abusive language and the oilier of having published u statement which hud indicated disloyalty. .’ Joseph James Lloyd, a brother of accused, was -also charged on two inlormations with having used abusive language on the same occasion in h’aetihi, and also with , having behaved in such n manner in Scddon Btreel that a breach of the peace might have been occasioned. Hotli accused, who were undefended, pleaded guilty 10 all the charges. According to (he evidence, given by the police, at the time the offence:- acre committed a third brother was being arrested by the police on a charge of having evaded military service. The two brothers joiimd in and caused a lot of trouble, Fred Lloyd u.--iag the following words; — “The British Hag is rolien and no good to ns. 11 ought to be blown to hell and the Lovenmienl will: it. They can do what they like, but I won’t light for I hem, (■ermany Jins done me no harm, but I lie .British have. They have gone all over Ireland before now and killed one forefathers, and until Ireland is freed I never will light." In passing sentence on Fred Lloyd, Lis "Worship remarked that although the charge was one of sedition it. was of a different Hass to one in which an endeavour was made to influence oilier people. After sentencing lo'cnsed to six months - imprisonment Mr Hewitt convicted and discharged him on the abusive language charge. Joseph .lames Lloyd was Jined La on each of the informations laid against him, in default one month's imprison meat on each charge. When this announcement was made, licensed said: “Excuse me, Mr Mackay was going to appear for me.“ and he looked round the Court room. Finally seeing Mr 'Mackay scaled at counsels-’ table, he said, ‘‘.Mr .Mackay But the latter never looked up, and only shook his head.