"KAISER SECOND TO NAPOLEON."

Taranaki Daily News, 17 March 1917, Page 2

"KAISER SECOND TO NAPOLEON."

DALMATIAN'S DISLOYAL UTTERANCES. By Telegraph.—Press A'- ' lion. Auckland, ilarcli 15. At the Pukekohe Police Court, Rafo Autovncvich, ,aged 31, ii native of Dalmatia, was charged with having made a disloyal and seditions statement in the hearing of his family. Tt was the first caso of the kind heard in the Dominion. The words used were: "The Kaiser is a great man, and I take off my hat to Mm. The British are tlia biggest mugs I ever saw. My brothers are giving you a good licking now. 1 am a German, not an Austrian. Kitchener was the biggest mug 11ever saw. Be would not hold Ma candle to the Kaiser. The Kaiser is second to Napoleon. He is the cleverest man ever born. The first tiling I will do .when Germany wins the war is to kick your . I would sell all my secrets to Germany. Why sjiould I be naturalised and fight for the British?" The police stated that accused had only been in the district a few months, end posed as a naturalised Dalmatian, but they had reason to believe he was U'naturalifod. Accused's mother-i]i;law. Amelia Turnbull, gave evidence that accused made the statements at the breakfast table in the presence of his wife and herself. Counsel for accused submitted that the case was only a family quarrel, and the regulations were never intended to pry into the private house.' Accused denied making the statement. The Magistrate, in imposing twelve months' imprisonment* »aid .u ..i..U place the facts before the Minister, for him to decide whether internment would be substituted for imprisonment.