RELIGIOUS CRANK'S WAR VIEWS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 316, 5 October 1917, Page 2

RELIGIOUS CRANK'S WAR VIEWS.

Seditious Utterance Charge AN APPLICANT FOR INTERNMENT "Mv work in New Zealand is finished. True Christianity in New Zealand is very nearly extinct. I have visited every house in the Dominion. Everywhere I go I see dissipation and I must express disapproval. So that 1 may not cause trouble I would ask one favour of you, Sir, and that is that I should be sent to Somes Island." These I words formed an appeal to the Magistrate (Mr E. Raw son, S.M.) as the dramatic conclusion to a speech made by a native of Finland in the Pukekohe Police Court in answer to a charge that he had used seditious language. His Worship, who had just previously read the Prison Medical Officer's report: "V. Johonson. under remand for medical observation, is under the impression that he is suffering from religious persecution but I am doubtful if his ideas are bo far advanced as to warrant his admission to a mental hospital," in reply drily remarked "I cannot send you to Somes Island. In any case you are not a subject of an enemy State. You may, ever, possibly go to Avondale." This pleader for internment, Victor Johonson by name, who gave his age as 02 and Finland as the country of his birth, was charged on remand with having, at Pukekohe on September 19th, given utterance to the following disloyal words, viz , "You have no right to send the boys to the front. England will never win the war. The Germans are putting down their ships and their crops ate a failure." The accused pleaded not guilty. The evidence of Mr and Mrs John Hewlett and Miss Florence Hewlett was to the effect that accused called at their farm selling religious literature and other stationery. They purchased three postcards and on Miss Hewlett remarking that the postcards would do to send to the boys at the front the accused, it was alleged, spoke as indicated in the charge. Thereupon the British spirit was aroused and Mr Hewlett ordered him to clear out and told him he was a d— German whilst Miss Hewlett was so indignant that she patriotically replied "Rather than let the Germans conquer us my mother and I, and all other women, will go aud light first." The cross-examination of the witnesses by the accused was intended to suggost that they had misunderstood him and that he had simply advocated that prayer would do more good than fighting to end the war and then the boys would not be required to be sent to the front. The accused, giving evidence on his own behalf, spoke in broken English and upon his German accent being commented on by the Magistrate the accused stated that he had only once been in Germany, namely when he was 16 years of age. He. however, admitted that the people of Finland did not like the Russians but said they would prefer to be under Swedish government. In the course of his statement accused said. " When I arrived in New Zealand 14 years ago I found drunkenness, gambling and racing everywhere and I determined to do something to stop it. I was first connected with a mission and then 1 was engaged by the Presbyterian Church to work in the back-blocks but I left them as that Church had too many restrictions aud I wanted to sav what I liked from my reading of tho Bible. I have since Icon engaged in distributing tracts. I am a carpenter by trade and also do house-painting and any money I have made by my work I have spent in buying tracts and giving them awav free. I foresaw that the war was'coming unless the people re pentod of their sins. I fully IHiove God will stop the war if the p«»pw pray to him People often <i»ss with me when I speak to them about prayer in connection with the war My conscience is quite clear I have been preaching tho Gospel in every town in New Zealand and I hive never made a disloyal stat* m- nt. Asked by Sergeant Cowan whether he had been naturalised, the accused replied " No. I only Rwear allegiance to Christ T will not swear allegiance to any earthly King ' Tfipn followed the anneal f'/r internment as quoted above whilst in support of his bona (ides accused produced a written Instimoni il from Mr L. M. Isitt. M.P. The Magistrate expressed doubts whether the accused was a religious hypocrite or crank. He (His Worship 1 ) beliovod that the accused made tho statements attributed to him but under the circumstances ho would not do moro than convict him and ordor him to come up for sentence if cilled upon. This would enable the polite to keep an eve upon him. Ho cautioned the arcused to be careful what he said in future as people were not in a temper to accept disloyal statements from anyr.no.

"The accused then left tlio Court carrying with him three heavy bags, containing religious tracts, of winch he was the owner when arrested.