PERJURY TRIAL AT HAMILTON

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3033, 21 March 1917, Page 4

PERJURY TRIAL AT HAMILTON

MB. LDNDON DENIES THE iOSI WITNESS'STORY "AN INFAMOUS LIE!" By Telegraph—Press Association. ' Hamilton, March 20. At the Supreme Court, the trial of Wi Hape, charged with_ secreting a witness during the Rua trial at Auckland, was continued. The witness Mahia Hakeke denied hia evidence given at Rotorua. He said, the whole story was a pure fabrication. "He denied being at the Aurora Hotel with Wi Hape, as-stated in the letters of confession in which he alleged that Mr. Lundbn had induced Wi Hape to secrete Mahia." • ,A. Way, barman at the Aurora. Hotel, Auckland, said the entry in the book produced, was. his, showing that the room had been paid for by two Natives giving the names of Wi Hape (? Mahia) and Wi Hape. '. - ; Counsel for accused said the latter would swear that his confession, waa absolutely true. """■'-.'■••.■• 'Sergeant Cassells said he believed the Natives had given Mr. Lundon a large sum of money to appear for them. Counsel submitted that accused had only been carrying out the instructions of lir. "Lundon. • . In the afternoon accused swore in the witness bos that his confession as read yesterday waa absolutely true. Mr. J. Lundon, solicitor for the defence at the Rua trial, was ; called a* a witness 1 ., When-in the bos he waa confronted with Wi Hape's confession. His reply was: "It's an infamous lie!' 1 Witness then entered upon a lengthy statement, in which he alleged. 4 that the whole matter was • ayconspiracy, against him, including, amongst others, the solicitor for. the defence . (Mr. Hampson) as one of the oentral figures. Mr. Selwyn Mays, for the Crown, m addressing the jury, said this series of prosecutions was,a serious attempt to stamp out a hideous iorm of conspiracy a d perjury which had been built up and had entwined itself around t the criminal law. '■ ■ ~ ,i t. Summing up, His Honour 6aid that the charge against accused was < whether by doing the acts alleged against mm he had wilfully defeated and obstructed the course «f justice. . . ,' 'I . After a retirement of 40 minutes, the jury found accused guilty. Prisoner . was remanded' for _ sentence until the conclusion of the sitting. _ The other cases were adjourned nntil Wednesday morning. ! / ' •