JUSTICE'S COURSE.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 257, 30 October 1929, Page 9

JUSTICE'S COURSE.

ATTEMPTED OBSTRUCTION. BOBBETT FOUND GUILTY. WROTE LETTER TO WITNESS. "It is necessary, in the administration of justice, upon which our social system practically depends, that all available evidence should be brought before the Courts," said Mr. V. R. Meredith, Crown Prosecutor, in the Supreme Court yesterday, when outlining the facts of the case in which William Bobbett, aged 3(i, was charged with wilfully attempting to obstruct or defeat the course oi justice by attempting to persuade, a woman, a witness duly summoned by the prosecution, to give false evidence in connection with the case in which Jessie Morris is charged with illegally using an instrument.

The case was heard before Mr. Justice Herdman. and, after a retirement of half an hour the jury returned a verdict of guilty. A recommendation to mercy was made. Bobbett will be sentenced on November S.

Mr. Meredith stressed the fact that it was most important in the interests of society that no one should be allowed to tamper with the. course of justice. The facts relating to the charge against Bobbett were that the woman Morris was charged on August 5. While she was on remand, the husband of the woman upon whom the operation was alleged to have been performed received a letter from someone who signed himself "Bill, of lvaeo, of long ago." It suggested that the woman should not recognise Morris in the course of proceedings. "That would squash the whole matter," he explained. In a statement made to the police, accused admitted writing the letter, but made it clear that he did not do so at the instigation of Morris.

The facts as related by Mr. Meredith were corroborated by Constable Dale, of Whangaroa, and Detective Sergeant Dovle.

Mr. Dickson, for accused, said that he was a married man with five children, and had previously borne an excellent character. He had been induced to write

the letter wlien he heard that Morris was charged. Morris was practically a stranger to him. It was a stupid letter, written by a man at the suggestion of his wife. "I wrote the letter not thinking what I was doing," said Bobbett, in giving evidence on his own behalf. He did not know Morris before she was charged. He substantiated Mr. Dickson's statement that lie wrote the letter at the dictation of his wife. Cross-examined, accused said it was not true that he had known Morris as "a good sort," as stated in the letter. Tie had never known her personally, although it was true that she had "done liini a good turn once." "This case is a serious one, because the wells of justice must be kept pure," said his Honor, in summing up. "If, as has been stated, people are to be permitted to go about the country interfering with witnesses or jurymen, or anyone connected with the administration of justice, then we may say good-bye to the of justice in the community, the detection of crime and the punishment of offenders." Stupidity was no excuse for the commission of a crime. The jury had to weigh the facts and return a verdict accordingly.