PROHIBITED PAPERS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1744, 23 October 1917, Page 3

PROHIBITED PAPERS.

“A DANGER TO THE COM- ' MUNITY.” A Swede by birth, but British by naturalisation, Chas. J. Johnson appeared in the Magistrate’s Court at Wellington on Saturday, to answer two charges, one of theft of a pair of boots, the property of some person unknown, and the other of procuring possession of certain prohibited publications, to wit, three copies of the International Socialist Review, three copies of Direct Action, and four copies of Ross’s Monthly Magazine, contrary to the War Regulations. Accused pleaded not guilty to the ' charge of theft, but guilty to the other charge. Chief-Detective Boddam stated tnat accused lived at Roseneath. In consequence of information received by the police, Detective-Ser-geants Andrews and Rawle visited a nieghbour’s house, and took possession of a bag, which had been deposited there some two days earlier, and which accused admitted to be his. The bag contained an enormous amount of I.W.W, literature, in addition to the publications mentioned in the information. Accused was a Swede, and naturalised. He worked on the wharf. He had been previously~eonvicted of theft, and,' in 1913, of assaulting a special constable. He took a prominent part in the 1913 strike. “I say with the greatest confidence,” said the Chief Detective, “that this man is a danger to the community.” Accused asked to be let off with a fine. The Magistrate: “Oh, I can’t let you off with a fine in these conditions.” Accused was sentenced to twelve months’ imprisonment with hard labour. The charge of theft was withdrawn.