CONSTABLE CHARGED WITH PERJURY

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 100, 22 January 1927, Page 9

CONSTABLE CHARGED WITH PERJURY

SEQUEL TO ACTION FOR DAMAGES Dominion Special. Dunedin, January 21. After several adjournments, the perjury charges against Constable George Macartnev xvere proceeded with today at. the Magistrate’s Court. This Was the sequel to the action in the Supreme Court in November last, when Lockett was awarded substantial damages against the constable for assault aud false arrest. Macartney has been in the police force for twenty-eight vears. It is about twenty years ago since a Dunedin police constable has been charged with perjury, and in that case the information xvas dismissed. Accused xvas represented bv Air. A. C. Hanlon, xvho had defended him in. the civil action. The Crown Solicitor (Mr. F. B. Adams) conducted the prosecutjon. Mr. Adams, after outlining the two charges, said that in viexv of the verdict of the jury in the case in which Lockett xvas axvarded damages against the constable the police considered it to be their duty to proceed against Macartney for perjury. ; The evidence xvould be’ the same as given in the Supreme Court, except that Air. Cave, the Registrar of the Supreme Court, would be called. It was considered that the Judge’s associate should be called, but he was now residing permanently in Auckland, and counsel and Air. Hanlon would decide whether it would be considered necessarx - to call him. Ernest White ’Cave, Registrar of the Supreme Court at the time, said he knexv the defendant in this case, and gax’g evidence to the effect that Alacartney had made the statements mentioned in the charge. The case is proceeding.