FALSE DECLARATION.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 103, 3 May 1929, Page 10

FALSE DECLARATION.

MAN GRANTED PROBATION. HEAVY PROSECUTION COSTS. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, this day. Having admitted that he made a false declaration in regard to a postal packet at Wanganui, ,• William Alexandra White appeared before Mr. Justice MacGregor in the Supreme Court today for sentence. Counsel for the prisoner asked for probation, as White had never been in trouble before, and he had a creditable war record. Counsel said White's mentality was apparently not of the highest order. Mrs. Cruickshank, the chief witness for the prosecution in the lower Court, was willing to have White back to board with her, and restitution had been made to her. Mr. Lupton, of Waverley, for whom prisoner had been working, was also prepared to employ him again. The Crown Prosecutor agreed that probation could be extended. He said the costs of the prosecution amounted to £10 9/6. Counsel said the judge would noticc that heavy costs had apparently been incurred owing to the fact that the magistrate at Wanganui had no power to deal with the offence under the Post and Telegraph Act. The Crown had been obliged to summon witnesses from Cliristchurch and Waverley to Wanganui, and then to send prisoner to Wellington for sentence. It was unfortunate that the case could not have been dealt with in the lower Court at Wanganui. That seemed to be why the costs were so heavy. His Honor: He seems to have good friends. Would they not pay the costs? Counsel said he had not been in: structed on that point. Prisoner had been in custody for nearly three weeks. His Honor: He ought to pay the costs, either himself, or his friends. Prisoner was ordered to be released on the payment of costs, and to come up for sentence when called upon within two years.