DECLINED TO TAKE OATH

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 115, 10 February 1944, Page 6

DECLINED TO TAKE OATH

U.S. Sailor Persuaded

Dominion Special Service. AUCKLAND, February 9. In a criminal case, a sequel to an armed hold-up of two Chinese last. October, heard in the Supreme Court yesterday, the first witness, an American sailor, refused at first to take the oath on the Bible. . * “I have got my sentence, he said., I am on bread and water and I figure I’ve had enough of it. I would rather not swear.” His Honour (Mr. Justice Fair): You are subject to additional punishment if you refuse to tell the truth in this Court. Take the Bible in your right hand. After hesitating, . witness took the oath. The second witness, the other sailor concerned, said he was at present serving a sentence ,o£ 10 years’ imprisonment for the offences on the Chinese, and other counts. “What I am felling you now is the truth,” he said. “What I said in the lower Court was not the truth. The rest of my story in this Court will be somewhat different from what I said then. I have got 10 years to nerve, and I am not going to get this boy into trouble for somethisg he did not do. I take all the blame for what I am going to say even though I may get further punishment.”