PERJURY ALLEGED

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 117, 13 November 1929, Page 13

PERJURY ALLEGED

FATHER AND SON ON TRIAL

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

INVERCARGILL, 12th Nov

Two charges of perjury were heard before his Honour Mr. Justice Kennedy in the Supreme Court to-day, when Patrick O'Donnell and his son, Joseph O 'DonneJl, appeared to answer charges arising out of a motor bylaw case in the Lower Court.

Joseph O 'Eonnell appeared first, and entered a plea of guilty. His Honour remanded prisoner for sentence until 10 a.m. on Monday. Patrick O 'Donnell pleaded not guilty. The. Crown Prosecutor, in outlining the charge to the jury, defined the nature' of the charge of perjury, and detailed the circumstances of tho case. Accused had sworn that his ear and his son had been at home when evidence was brought to show that the car had been seen in Invercargill. Accused's son had later pleaded guilty to having driven the car on the night in question. There was direct evidence not only of the constable who detected the minor offence, but also of a young man who accompanied the youth O'Donnell in the car on the night in question that the car' was certainly away from home and in Invercargill. The facts were brought to the knowledge of accused on 4th May, so he had till 12th June to discuss the matter with his son and family. The evidence all pointed to the fact that accused in making his statement upon oath before the Magistrate must have been well aware, of its falsity._ It was the duty of the jury to consider the case very carefully, regardless of tho consequences of their finding.

After evidence for the prosecution had been given the Conrt adjourned till to-morrow.