THE LICENSING PERJURY CASE.

Evening Post, Volume L, Issue 40, 15 August 1895, Page 4

THE LICENSING PERJURY CASE.

[BT TELEGEAPH.— PRKBS ASSOCIATION. | Chbistchduch, 14th August. At the Supremo Court to-day, George Jamoa Bruce was charged with perjury in the evidence given by him before the Licensing Committee at the hearing of the application for tho renewal of the license of Coker's Hotel, when ho sworo that from the window of his room iv Mancheator-atrcet be could see tho entrance to the bar in Georgostreet, and that ho saw mon and women come tumbling out of tho bar. The gallery was packed, and a few ladies well known in connection with the Prohibition movement ooenpied seats iv tbo front iow. A number of ministtra and Prohibitionist leaders were among those present. Mr. Hussell defended the accused, who pleaded Not Guilty. Both accused's counsel and Mr. Stringer, who conducted the caee for the Crown, freely exercised their powers of selection when (he jury was being chosen, Mr. Russell exhausting bis power of challenging by objeoting to twelve of those whose namea were drawn, while seven wore ordered to stand aside by tho Crown. '1 he evidence for the prosecntion was tho same as that given in the lower Court. For the defence, it was stated that the alleged perjury had arisen through the manner in which at the Licensing Committee meeting the qnestion had been pnt to the accused. CounEel, it was sworn, first asked Bruce how far ho could see down Georpestreet, and ho, it was stated, lepliod that he could see the upper part Counsel then remarked, paraphrasing the answer, " Exactly as far as the bar," and almost in tho same breath asked, "Do you know Coker's Hotel f" Uiuco, thinking that he was replying to the latter question, said " Ye*." The jury, after retirement for 50 minutes, found the accused Not Guilty.