Four British National Socialist leaders went on trial today on charges of violating the Public Order Act by forming and directing a semi-military organization called “Spearhead.”
The defendants were Colin Jordan, 39, leader of the group, John Tyndall, 26, national secretary, Denis Perie, 23, assistant secretary, and Roland Kerr-Ritchie, 42, research officer. The Public Order Act bars organizations seeking to use force to achieve political goals. The four neo-Nazis, acting as their own counsel, pleaded not guilty.
Mervyn Griffith-Jones, appearing for the Crown, entered as evidence a letter written to Tyndall declaring that the movement would cooperate with the Arab world in combating “Zionism and World Jewry.” Another item was a letter sent to a Col. Shazly of the United Arab Republic, asking for 15,000 pounds sterling ($42,000) to set up a radio transmitted outside the three-mile limit of Britain’s territorial waters and a similar request for 2,500 pounds ($7,000) for salaries and expenses.
Physical evidence was piled on a long table in the courtroom. It included photographs of Hitler, German helmets, automatic pistols, swastika arm bands and similar items.
The prosecutor warned the jury not to underestimate the activities of the neo-Nazis, declaring that “Hitler’s Nazis were in the beginning only a handful of men.” He also said much of the evidence consisted of documents published by the defendants, by the organization or found in possession of the defendants.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
