THE WESTPORT PERJURY CASE.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13234, 30 September 1908, Page 7

THE WESTPORT PERJURY CASE.

CONNELLY SENTENCED TO SEVEN YEARS.

(rUESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) HOKITIKA, September 29. In the perjury charge against William Con-nally, Mr Justice Cooper occupied 5J houits in summing up. The issue, he said, was practically whether Hallinian and Anderson, who were convicted at Nctlson of mainslaughter, and sentenced to seven years' imprisonment, had beon wrongfully convicted, and the present prosecution had been brought to test this. His Honour summed up most pronouncedly in accused's iavour, holding that although Connelly stood convicted from his own. admissions, mo corroborative reliablo evidence had been adduced, as required by tlio statute.

After a roliirement for four hours, the jury brought in a verdict of guilty on eight- counts of tho indictment, and not guilty ©m the loot—aa unimportant—count.

3lr Hannan, for tlio defence, asked leave to more for a fresh trial on the ground that the verdict was again.it the weight of evidence.

His Honour, while reserving the qu ret ion, of leave to move for a fresh trial, suid ho did not think the application would lie granted, as lia was sntisfiVd that the jury had given most careful consideration to the whole case.

The prisoner was sentenced to seven years"' hard labour.