"GRAVE PERJURY SOMEWHERE"

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22941, 10 February 1940, Page 18

"GRAVE PERJURY SOMEWHERE"

MAGISTRATE’S WARNING ON ADJOURNING CASE “There has been a grave perjury committed somewhere. ... I am not closing the matter.' It is far too serious,” said the Magistrate (Mr E. C. Levvey, S.M.), in adjourning the hearing of a charge against Thomas Edward Ward at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday of exceeding the speed limit on a motor-cycle at Redcliffs on December 13. To a second, charge of riding an unregistered machine, the defendant pleaded guilty. The hearing was adjourned to Friday. Senior-Sergeant J. Bickerdike conducted the case for the police. Three witnesses, Ernest Thomas ■Chitty. Henry George Hunt, and Robert Herman Lloyd gave-evidence that they had seen a man riding a motorcycle at Redcliffs about 8 p.m. on December 13, travelling at an excessive speed. . Chitty said the machine bore the number plate 4289, and that Ward was -the rider, the latter point being corroborated by Lloyd when he was questioned. , TO Senior-Sergeant Bickerdike, •Ward said that the number plate on. His machine was 4289, <■. .. .• - In further evidence, Ward said that he had not been at Redcliffs at the hour stated. He had had afternoon tea at Harman street, Spreydon, tea at Pope street, Addington, and at 7.30 p.m. had telephoned a young woman and met her at 7-45 p.m. Then he had gone back to the Addington address. _ The motor-cycle had been there all the time. When he used the machine next it seemed to be in the same condition as when he had left it. It did not appear to have been ridden by anyone el The Magistrate: One of you is liable to immediate prosecution, for perjury as the case stands. That puts youm a very peculiar position. (To Ward): You say your statement is true and that you were not there at the time. Well, one of you is lying, , The Magistrate added that there was apparently some personal feeling between Ward and Chitty,-- ~ The case was adjoiirned to enable witnesses mentioned by Ward to give evidence.