PERJURY CHARGE.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19461, 7 November 1928, Page 11

PERJURY CHARGE.

VERDICT OF NOT GUILTY*

(PBE3S ASSOCIATION •TEi.tOBXM.) DTJNEDIN, Nm ember 0. After a retirement of abtiUt a quartetof an hour, the jury hearing the charge of perjury against George Augustus Herbert, returned to Cburt With a verdict of not guilty, and prisoner WaS discharged. The hearing bf the base engaged the attention of the Court all day yesterday ahd up till the lufldheon adjournment to-day. The perjury, which Herbert was alleged to have committed, was ia Btatihg in evidence in a slaiider action agaiast him some months ago that Henry Thomas Btowh had asked hiih to have the Speedbmetbr of his mbtbr-car set back before it was sold, and that he made that statement in Stedman's garage to a man hamed Carter and the two Stedmans. The Crown maintained that the car was not brought into Todd'B garage to have the Speedometer set back) and that the speedometer was not set back, and that the two Stedmans were not present when the statement was alleged to be made. The jury retired at 12.40 and returned a few minutes before I o'clock with a verdict of not guilty. Mf Adams, for the Crown, referred to the fact that there WAs a Siaiilar charge against Willihm Kavanagh Mercerj and said he would Suggest to the Solicitor-General that the decision ia Herbert's case as deciding Mercer's case. He proposed to ask that the other c&se stand doWn till nefct session and to apply for & nolle prosequi. Mr for the defence, suggested that the Crown Prosecutor should telegraph nt once &hd not leaVe the case hanging over Merger's head for so long. His Hnnditf M? Justice Macgi-egor, agreed that the case stand down till the end bf the preseht'list till Mr Adams received advice frdm Wellington.