16 persons were convicted of treason and sentenced in the No.1 Home Circuit Court. 57-year-old Cladius Henry was described as the chief instigator and received harsher penalties than the rest of the group. He was the founder and leader of the African Reform Church.

PUBLISHED SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1960

HENRY GETS 10 YEARS ON TREASON-FELONY CHARGE

- All 15 accused found guilty in 19-day trial

-‘Chief instigator and promoter’ – Judge

-JURY COMMEND POLICE

 

A JURY of six men and one woman took 68 minutes in the No. 1 Home Circuit Court yesterday afternoon to bring in a unanimous verdict of guilty in the island’s first-ever treason-felony case against Rev Claudius Henry, 57 year-old founder and leader of the African Reform Church, and 14 of his followers.

At the end of the 19th day of trial, Mr Justice Duffus imposed sentences ranging from three to 10 years' imprisonment with hard labour on the 15 accused, with Henry getting the longest sentence of 10 years.

The indictment contained three counts and 14 of the accused were found guilty on all three counts, whilst the 15 , 27-year-old Fitzalbert Brooks, an ice cream vendor, was found guilty only on the first of the three counts. Sentences on each count are to be served currently, starting from September 16, the date on which the Circuit Court session began.

Against the background of a hushed courtroom with the accused all standing in the enlarged dock, Mr Justice Duffus, before rejecting the plea of defence counsel Mr Peter Evans, for what he termed “a moderated and merciful sentence”, said, “it was clear, and clear beyond any doubt, that the persons charged attempted to influence the Government of this country, properly constituted, by highly unlawful means”.

“It is also clear, and clear beyond any doubt, also in my mind,” the trial judge said, “that the chief instigator and promoter was Claudius Henry, a man who called himself an appointed prophet of God, a man who threw scorn on all other religions in Jamaica.”

Sentences

The following sentences were passed by the trial judge: Claudius Henry, 10 years; Edna Fisher, 52, fish vendor,three years; 19-year-old Kenneth Morgan,three years; Wilfred Brown, peanut vendor,five years; Fitzalbert Brooks,three years; John Bryan, 36, cabinetmaker,  four years; Lincoln Graham, 27, Gardner, three years; Nelson Dawkins, 40, fisherman and shopkeeper, threeyears; Rupert Smith, 48, farmer, three years; Vernon Washington, 45, railway plate layer and store clerk,three years; Gifford Higgins, 23, mason, three years; Reuben Jackson, 43, carpenter, three years; and Cecil Moore, carpenter, four years.

Five of the accused had criminal records, as revealed in character evidence given by Superintendent George Mullen, head of the Corporate Area CID.

Moore had 10 previous convictions; Wilfred Brown, four; Fitzalbert Brooks, three; John Bryan, two; and Vernon Washington, one.

Four of the accused, asked by the Court if they had anything to say before sentence was passed on them, availed themselves of the opportunity. Stone, who held the rank of lieutenant in Rev Henry’s movement, said, “God and Israel will remember you for your judgment.” Brown said, “Nothing to say before I get back to Africa.” Moore sharply said, “I don’t understand the counts.

I wish to prove my innocence” and was told by Mr Justice Duffus that it was too late to do that now.

Before passing sentence the judge spoke about the Rastafarian doctrine describing it as “a wicked doctrine which had been allowed to take a hold on the poor and illiterate people of this country. Far too many people have looked upon it as a crackpot movement among a few people". 

"It had been encouraged by certain sections of the press in the use of their headlines," the judge added.

Foreman Merlin Hibbert, after delivering the verdict of the jury, addressed himself to the trial judge saying, “A lot has been said of the police and some of it appears to be unkind.

"We would like them to feel, as members of the public, that they behaved in this case with great restraint and they did excellent job of work and are to be commanded." The other members of the jury were Astley Omphroy, Walter Kennedy, Frederick Edmunds, Donald Binds, Roy Allen, and Miriam Crosby.

Mr Huntley Munroe, Crown counsel, led the prosecution in association with Mr L.L. Robotham. Mr Peter Evans appeared for all 15 accused.  

 

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