CAUSE OF JUSTICE OBSTRUCTED

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 31, 31 October 1929, Page 12

CAUSE OF JUSTICE OBSTRUCTED

MAN CONVICTED AT AUCKLAND By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, October 29. William Bobbett, aged 36, was tried at the Supreme Court to-day on a charge of wilfully attempting to obstruct or defeat the course of justice by attempting to persuade a woman witness, duly summoned by the prosecution,’ to give false evidence at the hearing in the Magistrate’s Court of a charge against Jessie Morris of unlawfully using an instrument The Crown Prosecutor (Mr. Meredith) said Morris was charged on August 5. At that time the woman upon whom the operation had been performed was lying,* ill in hospital. While Morris was on remand the husband of the woman in hospital received a letter signed “Bill, of Kaeo Long Ago,” making a direct, request that he should suggest to his wife that she should not recognise Morris for the purposes of the trial. The letter pointed out that if the woman declined to recognise Morris proceedings must fail.

Counsel for the defence said accused was married with five children, and had hitherto oorne an excellent character. Morris was practically a stranger to him. It was a stupid letter, written by a man at the suggestion of his wife, who felt sorry for Morris. Sir Alexander Herdman said the case was serious because the wells of justice must be kept pure. If people were to be permitted to go about the couiitry interfering with witnesses or jurymen or anybody connected with the administration of justice, then they might say good-bye to the administration of justice in the community, the detection of crime and the punishment of offenders. ■ The jury returned a verdict of guilty with a recommendation to mercy.

Prisoner was remanded until November S for sentence.