See South Africa Nazis Routed Completely in Defamation Suit

South African Jewry is hailing a victory scored here over Nazi Grey Shirt leaders as a decisive forward step in the centuries-old fight of their world co-religionists against persecution and bigotry.

The triumph came dramatically at the tenth day of the trial of Herr Strauss von Moltke, Harry V. Inch and David H. Olivier, the Grey Shirt’s leaders who are being sued by Rabbi A. Levy of the Western Road Synagogue in Port Elizabeth, for £2,000 each for defamation. Rabbi Levy accused the defendants of having fabricated and disseminated documents tending to arouse the populace against the Jews. The case is being heard in the Grahamstown Supreme Court, presided over by Sir Thomas Graham, the judge-president, and Mr. Justice Gutsche.

Inch supplied the dramatic climax of the tenth day’s hearing when he announced his withdrawal from the case. Excitement gripped the courtroom which, as at previous hearings, was packed with spectators.

The president of the court, also stunned for the moment by the sudden turn, told Inch that withdrawal was impossible. Thereupon, Inch replied that he left the matter in the hands of the court and walked out without looking at his two co-defendants, Moltke and Olivier.

Later, Moltke admitted in court that he must have been mistaken about the documents in question. He stated that the documents were planted on him.

Local newspapers—which have followed the trial very closely, devoting many columns to the reports of the testimony—place significance on Inch’s withdrawal and Moltke’s admission about the documents.

And not unjustly, for they interpret both dramatic moves as an admission of defeat. It is believed the three leaders of the South African anti-Semitic Nazi organization now realize that the justices will rule against them.

Moltke’s apparent excuse as to the origin of the document is important. The entire case hinges on this point. The defendants had maintained that the alleged defamatory words were contained in the documents, said to have been stolen from the Western Road Synagogue. Rabbi Levy on the other hand, refuted this claim, declaring that the papers were a forgery.

While native Jews see cause for rejoicing in Inch’s withdrawal from the case inasmuch as it is an apparent admission of defeat, they are awaiting expectantly the court’s final decision. This decision, as they see it, can have but one outcome and will make the victory complete.

Meanwhile, Rabbi Levy has secured an interim interdict in regard to the document in the possession of the Moltke. Moltke, who had declared that the document would be read at meetings throughout the Eastern Province, and the owner, the publisher, the printer and the editor of Der Rapport, a newspaper which is issued in Cape Aberdeen, were ordered to refrain from printing or publishing the document.

The securing of this injunction has apparently dealt a severe blow to the anti-Semitic movement and to the aspirations of their leaders. These Nazi officials had placed much reliance on the contents of the documents as propaganda material.