"POISON GAS METHODS"

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3059, 21 April 1917, Page 10

"POISON GAS METHODS"

THE HAMILTON PERJURY CASES. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Hamilton, April 20. When the Supreme Court resumed this morning tho hearing of tho perjury chargos against' Natives, Mr. Mays, for the Crown, referred to yesterday's incident, in which counsel for tho defenco had inferred that two .constables, witnesses in tho case, had committed perjury at Auckland in an affiliation case. Counsel said that after careful consideration ho wotild not ask that the jury bo dismissed without a verdict. A very clear explanation could bo made,in the matter. His Honour said ho intended l to direct the jury to absolutely disregard the unsupported statement mado by Mr. Lundon.-as non-existent.

Mr. Mays described the conduct of the defence liko the conditions in Germany. The caso had not boon fought on ordinary clear lines, but with poison gas. During tho course of his summihgi up His Honour commented upon tho attacks that had boon made upon tho ■ police by counsel for defence, Mr. J. ' 11. Lundon. His Honour said it was ; an easy matter to raiso a, cheap laugh by making a general attack on tho police when there was 'nofSfug nrach in'the case, though in this caso ho did not make such a suggestion, but it was-a" 1 very good horso to ride. Proceeding, bo 1 said ho would not liko the jury to think ■ that tho Court endorsed tho remarks made about tho police by counsel for tho defence. The calling of the police was an honourable one. They had to ' maintain tho law, and seo that criminals were brought to justice. Clever and cunning methods were adopted by criminals, and tlieso had to be coped with by the police. . It was not for the officers of the Court to attack tho police, but to uphold tTiem. After a retirement of four hour's, the jury was called into court, and the foreman announced that there -was not-, much chance of an agreement. His Honour asked the jury to resume at 7, and endeavour to reason tho matter out. This was- agreed to.