J. J. Murphy Charged With

Treachery

JOHN JOSEPH MURPHY, who was a patrol officer in the New Guinea Ad ministration prior to the Jap in vasion, and who afterwards was an Intelligence officer in the service of the Allies, with the rank of captain, was arrested in Lae at the beginning of November, on two serious charges.

Murphy was found in Rabaul when the Australian Forces moved in, in Novem ber. He was landed in New Britain, in Jap-occupied territory, late in 1943, on an important and dangerous mission, and he was later captured by the Japs. His two comrades, a lieutenant and a ser geant, were killed, and Murphy was wounded.

The first charge alleges that Murphy treacherously gave information to the enemy The second accuses him of hav ing, at Rabaul in December, 1943, treacherously given to Captain Yamaga Gonju, Japanese naval officer, informa tion about AMF who landed in New Britain in September, 1943.

He was arrested on information given by several Japanese officers who are now in Lae waiting to give evidence at the trial.

Murphy will be defended by Major D.

B. Hunter, a Sydney barrister.