New Zealand.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 92, 21 April 1915, Page 2

New Zealand.

trading with the enemy. Pku Press Association. Wellington, April Wilhelm Heinrich Magnus Duerkop, w ho has been found guilty on four charges of trading with the enemy, came before Chief Justice Sir Robert Stout to-day for sentence. Accuse!, in a short speech from the dock, expressed regret, that his actions had been determined as a breach of uhe law. When he redirected the cargoes, he was under the impression that lie was within Ins rights. He had given every assistance to the prosecution, and admitted that the prosecution had given him every assistance in preparing In’s defence. The Judge said the case was peculiar in that negotiations were entered into before the war. The jury did not allow any feeling or resentment to influence their verdict, and he believed ti was the only verdict they honestly could have delivered in view of the whole circumstances of the case. Ho would deal leniently with accused, although the Government did right to prosecute so as to show that trading with the enemy was a serious business. The accused was fined £IOO in default three months imprisonmnent';