COURT SENSATION.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 148, 25 June 1931, Page 5

COURT SENSATION.

FATHER or GIRL WITNESS. BROUGHT BEFORE MAGISTRATE. (By Telegraph. —Press Association.) • WELLINGTON, Wednesday. A sensation was caused in the Magistrate's Court to-day during the hearing of a case against two women, when Sub-Inspector Ward, who was conductinc the prosecution for the police, tola the magistrate, Mr. E. Page, S.M., that a woman who had given evidence had, after leaving the Court, been molested by her father, who said she had no rio-ht to give evidence. He was also reported to have told her she would suffer for it afterwards. It appeared, said Sub-Inspector Ward, that her father, who had been at the back of the Court, had been shaking his fist at her while she was in the witness box. That was perhaps the reason why she had been so reluctant to answer certain questions. "He is in the prisoners' roopi now," added the subinspector. Mr. Page: Have him brought here. "I got a surprise to see her coming here to the Court to-day," said the girl's father, when he appeared before the magistrate. "When she was walking along to get in the box I just put up my hand." . Mr. Page: If what the police say is correct, you are guilty, first of all, of contempt of Court, for which you are liable to imprisonment. If it is true that you have threatened this girl in any way, you are liable to be charged with the offence, indictable under the Crimes Act, for interfering with the conduct of a Court of justice. If there is any evidence of that interference or of the slightest repetition, I will direct the police to prosecute you. The father then attempted to make a further explanation, but the magistrate ordered him to stop.