The Arab Executive today called off the general strike scheduled as a demonstration against the trial of eighteen Arab leaders who are charged with illegally participating in the outbreaks here last month. The obvious reason for the failure of the strike to materialize was the apathy of Moslem boatmen and tradesmen.
The courtroom was almost deserted when the eighteen leaders were brought to trial before Magistrate Kingsley-Heath. The defendants pleaded not guilty through ten attorneys who are representing them.
In the midst of the proceedings the defense attorneys suddenly demanded an interruption, claiming it necessary for the religious observance of Ramadan, holy Moslem month. The trial was adjourned until tomorrow.
Previous to his order for a postponement, Magistrate Kingsley-Heath stopped to pay tribute to Myles Layman Farr Elliot, government advocate who prosecuted the Jerusalem Arab demonstrators and who died last night following an automobile accident. The vehicle which ran him over was driven by an Arab. He was struck the night the rioters were convicted.
Jemal Hussein, convicted member of the Arab Executive, whose sentence of a month’s imprisonment was reversed on Saturday at the behest of a number of sympathizers who pleaded for clemency, and who received instead the imposition that he pay a deposit of two hundred pounds as guarantee for a year’s good behavior, is reported as having refused the new sentence. He refused to post the bond, saying that he preferred the earlier sentence.
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.
