#seditious words

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"POLICE LAID CHARGE AGAINST A. E. SMITH," Toronto Star. February 20, 1934. Page 13. ---- Justice Minister in Error in Naming Ontario Attorney-General ---- Hon. Hugh Guthrie, minister of justice, erred when he stated yesterday in the House of Commons that the sedition charge on which Rev. A. E. Smith is awaiting trial, was preferred by the attorney-general of Ontario, The Star was told to-day. The charge against the secretary of the Labor Defence League was laid by Toronto police, it is stated on reliable authority.

The charge was laid by Sergeant of Detectives William Nursey, Detective-Sergeant Norman Tinsley and Detective Daniel Mann, three officers of the Toronto police department. The names of the officers appear on the information as complainants.

On the evening of January 17, Sergeant Nursey and his men accompanied by "a stenographer," visited Hygeia Hall, where a play and meeting was in progress. As a result of what they heard, information charging A. E. Smith with sedition, was laid before Crown Attorney McFadden.

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"Sentenced Letter Writer Changes Plea of 'Guilty'," Vancouver Sun. October 1, 1943. Page 3. --- Frank Paul changed his plea to not guilty, when he appeared Thursday in County Court to appeal from his conviction several weeks ago on a charge under the Defense of Canada Regulations. Hearing of the case was adjourned by Judge Bruce Boyd until 2:30 p.m. Monday.

In Police Court, Paul, who lives at 781 East Eighteenth, admitted that he wrote a letter to his brother in Sault Ste. Marie last March 12, containing statements which the Crown alleged were likely to prejudice recruiting, training, discipline or administration of His Majesty's forces. Magistrate Mackenzie Matheson sentenced him to six months.

"He said he wrote the letter but did not mean any harm. He was mad at the time. His brother is in the Air Force now," Detective A. R. Gibb testified Paul said when faced with the letter.

At the request of Prosecutor Gordon Scott, the hearing was adjourned to enable the Crown to call the RCMP constable who accompanied Detective Gibb to give evidence as to whether Paul was warned.

A. H. Fleishman is conducting the appeal.

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“Wm. J. Hanna was sentenced by Magistrate O’Brien at Port Arthur to six months at hard labor for making seditious remarks on board a train.”

- from the Sault Star. May 27, 1918. Page 6.

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“G. Robitaille comparaît,” L’Illustration Nouvelle. February 28, 1941. Page 03. ---- Gustave Robitaille. 44 ans. 7172. rue Louis-Hébert, surnommé le "Prince charmant de la mission du Saint-Esprit", organisation qui a été déclarée hors ia loi par le gouvernement fédéral depuis la déclaration de la guerre, a comparu hier après- midi. devant le juge F.-T. Enright. Il est accusé, en vertu du règlement 39 de la loi de la Défense nationale, d'avoir le 17 février dernier fait des déclarations tendant à causer de la désaffection parmi les sujets de Sa Majesté et répandu des nouvelles da nature à nuire au recrutement et à la sécurité de l'Etat. L'accusé a nié sa culpabilité et le procès a été fixé au 5 mars..

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“Jails Accused Under War Act,” The Globe and Mail. December 15, 1939. Page 17. --- Court Rejects Excuse He Talked While Drunk --- ‘DIRTY INNUENDO’ --- Kirkland Lake, Ont., Dec. 14 (CP). - Convicted under the War Measures Act of making statements ‘intended or likely’ to cause disaffection to the King, Eldridge Lee McMillan today was sentenced to three months in jail and fined $200 and costs or an additional three months.

Magistrate S. Atkinson, in passing sentence, said: ‘It looks like part of a gigantic propaganda sweeping the country from coast to coast. The same statements are made and the same defense: ‘I was drunk and I didn’t know what I said,’ is used. ‘I think this concerted propaganda, this dirty innuendo calculated to create unrest in the Dominion, should be treated seriously. We have got to stamp out this thing or we’ll have riots.’

One of McMillan’s statements included in the evidence was that he hoped the German would sink every ship in the British navy.

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“9 Months, $400 Fine For Disloyal Words,” Toronto Star. October 6, 1939. Page 32. --- English Veteran Given 6-12 Months for War Act Breach --- Special to The Star London, Oct. 6. - William Phillip, 41-year-old Austrian-born laborer was sentenced to nine months in jail and fined $400 and costs or another three months’ imprisonment by Magistrate Hawkshaw in county court today. Phillip, who has lived in Canada 32 years, was convicted last week of making remarks, ‘likely to cause disaffection to his majesty the King.’

‘This man says he is a naturalized Canadian,’ declared Crown Attorney Norman Newton. ‘If he is, then he is a traitor. Were he back in the land where he was born he would be taken before a firing squad.’

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“Convicted Over Statements,” Toronto Star. October 14, 1939. Page 03. --- Trenton, Oct. 14. - Gerald Rowe, Trenton, was remanded for sentence until Nov. 14 by Magistrate R. J. Butler today. Rowe was convicted on Oct. 6, on a charge of making statements intended or likely to prejudice the recruiting, training and discipline of his majesty’s forces.

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“Given Benefit Of Doubt,” Toronto Star. October 14, 1939. Page 02. --- Guelph, Oct. 14. - Magistrate Watt today dismissed a charge against George Borger, 31, Brantford engineer, of making statements likely to cause disaffection to his majesty. ‘The evidence is very conflicting, giving rise to a legal doubt to which accused will be entitled,’ Magistrate Watt said.