CHARGE OF PERJURY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 227, 26 September 1898, Page 8

CHARGE OF PERJURY.

I PROCEEDINGS AGAINST EX-

CONSTABLES,

THE CASE DISMISSED.

This morning further evidence for the defence was heard at the Police Court, before Mr H. W. Brabant, S.M., in the case against ex-Constable J. W. Skinner. The defendant was charged with having committed perjury during- the hearing- of a charge of obscene language brought against Alfred Harris, by swearing that Harris used obscene language. . Mr Cooper appeared for the prosecution; Mr Campbell for the defence. Edmund Francis Garlick, printer, was called for the defence. He heard a scuffle in the private bar of the Albion Hotel on the day in question and heard the words, 'I have you in your plain clothes now,' used in a loud tone, which he afterwards identified as Harris.' Those were the only words he could swear to. Harris was about half drunk. Michael Hogan, tram inspector, said he saw Harris arrested on August 4. Harris seemed to him to be under the influence of liquor. Walter Scott, ex-Constable, again deposed that Harris used the obscene language he was charged with. Witness was positive that it was Harris who used the language. He was only three feet away at the time. James Jackson and John Mcßae, exconstables, gave similar evidence. Michael John Noughton and Gertrude Morran, barmaid, were also called for the defence. The latter said she heard Harris use obscene language outside the hotel. She was crossing Hobson-street at the time, about ten yards away. Constable Crean and Thomas Bevin, a carter, gave evidence to the effect that Harris was drunk on the afternoon in question. His Worship said he would read over the evidence and give his decision at three o'clock. When the court resumed at three o'clock His Worship in giving judgment said it seemed to him quite possible that the language was used, and that the witnesses for the prosecution did not hear it. The evidence as a whole was very confused and contradictory, but he had come to the conclusion that there would be no chance on the evidence he had before him of a jury convicting the accused of perjury. The case was therefore dismissed and the accused discharged. The charges against ex-Constables Scott. Jackson, and Mcßae, were withdrawn.