Barons: cmu coum IN 1907 51 within a given period, and failing to do so, they were sentenced to simple imprisonment for two months. Mr. Gandhi was one of those arrested and brought to trial. In Christmas week of 1907 Mr. Gandhi received a telephone message from Mr. H. F. 1). Papenfue, Acting Commissioner of Police for the Transvaal, asking him to call at Marlborough House. Upon arriving there, he was informed that the arrests had been ordered of himself and 25 others. The following account of the proceedings in Court is taken from the " Indian Opinion " Mr. Gandhi gave his word that all would appear be- fore the respective magistrates at 10 A.M. next day and the Commissioner accepted this guarantee. Next morning when be attended at the B. Criminal Court he was ask- ed by the Superintendent whether he held duly issued registration certificates under law 2 of 1907, and upon receiving replies in the negative, he was promptly arrest- ed and charged under section 8 sub-section 2 of Act 2 of 1907, in that he was in the Transvaal without a registra- tion certificate issued under the act. The Court was crowded to excess, and it seemed as if, at one time, the barrier would he overthrown. Mr. D. J. Shurmau prosecuted on behalf of the
- Crown.
Mr, Gandhi pleaded guilty. Sup. Vernon gave evidence as to the arrest, Mr. Gandhi asked no questions, but went into the box prepared to make a statement. He said what he was about to state was not evidence but he hoped the Court would grant him indulgence to make a short explanation
