A PRISONER'S EVIDENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 94, 20 April 1904, Page 6

A PRISONER'S EVIDENCE.

MAGISTRATE SUGGESTS A PERJURY PROSECUTION. In iihe prosecution of William W. Cassidy for being concerned in playing "two-np" on the foreshore at Freeman's Bay last Sunday, Mr Blomfield, S.M., who heard the case this; morning, directed the police to make inquiries with a view of instituting proceedings against Cassidy on a charge of perjury. ( Constables A. Skinner and Moriarty, who watched the men gambling on the beach while they were secreted in some scrub on the nearest cliff, were positive that Cassidy was one of the interested crowd. Constable Skinner said he saw the acused pick tip silver coins, twice during the progress of the game. He used a field glass, and could plainly see what was going on, _ .. . * ■•. Cassidy, who was defended by Mr J. C. Martin, took the oath and declared that Skinner was mistaken. He took absolutely no part in the game, and only saw the circle of inen-as he sat qu a log on the beach intending to undress for a swim. He was ivndoing his bpotawhen the police, arrested him. His Worship said he was satisfied that the constables could plainly distinguish faces through a field glass at a distance of 40 or 50 yards, and Cassidyhad aggravated his offence by. deliberately committing perjury. He directed the police to make further inquiries to see if a prosecution should not be undertaken, and he imposed a fine of £5 or a month's imprisonment.