UNUSUAL REQUEST.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2003, 10 March 1914, Page 6

UNUSUAL REQUEST.

SUDE BY LAWYER & DECLINED. ■ (By Telegraph.—Press Association,) flucklarnli March 9. The question of how'far the police should, disclose a ease to counsel ckfending an accused person was involved in Jin application, made by Mr. iSingcito Mr. Cuttou, S.M:, this morning, Mr, Singer intimated that bo was appearing for defendant in a case agamst nn -ex-waterside worker chnrgeQ with using insulting language, -He'had applied to Inspector M'Grafch to lniq'w the exact tiine and place of tire alleged effeuce. and. wlio were tho witnesses, but that infonnation had teen detlinedl . Counsel painted out that His Worship had power under thft Justices of the l<«ace Act to require- tho prosecution to givc a information, and lie stated that it was unpvrasjbla far him t« adequately ileal with tbo defence unless ho got tho information.

inspector M'GratJi .stated/ that tho application was a- most umisual one, In fact, ho had not previously had snelt o request, Mr. Singer said that tho defence was a denial of the language alleged, and information Which ho asked was for the parpese of getting witnesses to Visibly prove an alibi.

His Worship pointed out that, for tUc prosecution t<l ;cta as astecl, opened the way to the defeueo bringing along "suitable-" witnesses, though ho did Hot -suHge-st thafi anything of tho sort would : bo done. l)ere s To ask the prosecution to giv« the names of witiicsses was a thing tliat ho woiild ljav-e the greatest hesitation in doing. After considering tho matter His Worship declined to make any o-rdor.