UNUSUAL CHARGES

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21373, 18 March 1941, Page 2

UNUSUAL CHARGES

CARDS FOR SOLDIERS WHEREABOUTS IN CODE (By Telegraph.—Special to Times) NAPIER, Monday Unusual charges were heard in the Napier Magistrate’s Court today when Luke Edward Brough, billiards saloon proprietor, and Swailes and Company, Limited, were charged with having cards printed to enable soldiers to send word home of their , movements.' The former was charged with having had printed 200 cards showing countries, towns and numbers thereon which might interfere with the effective censorship of letters in New Zealand and elsewhere. Swailes was charged with printing these cards and with omitting to print the firm’s name on them. Pleas of guilty were entered to all charges. Chief-Detective H. Nuttall said that in November Brough had had printed by Swailes cards showing the names of countries and numbers corresponding to them. Brough told the chief detective the idea was conceived by members of the forces in his billiards saloon. It was intended a soldier should take one card overseas and leave another with an intended recipient. His letters would then provide a code for indicating where he was. No Doubts About Loyalty “ We do not raise any doubt about the loyalty of either Brough or Swailes,” Mr Nuttall said, “ but these cards could be used for disloyal purposes.” Counsel for the printers, Mr V. Langley, said the printers acted innocently, and thought the cards appeared like a game to be used in the billiards saloon. For Brough, Mr C. W. Walsh said there was no intention the cards should be used to interfere with the regulations. “It was a very foolish thing to do,” said the magistrate, in fining Brough £ls and costs and Swailes £lO and costs.