ALLEGED PERJURY

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 144, 15 December 1933, Page 11

ALLEGED PERJURY

SOLICITOR'S AGENT CHARGED

COMMITTED FOR TRIAL

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) CHBISTCHURCH, December 14. After the hearing of further evidence in the case in which John Black Batchelor, solicitor's agent, is charged with perjury in the Supreme Court, attempting to pervert the course of justice, fabricating evidence, and attempting to dissuade James Henry Duncan Campbell, by bribe or other corrupt means, from giving evidence in the case against the accused, Batchelor was committed for trial on all except the last charge. The case is a sequel to Supreme Court proceedings heard on August 24 in which Cyril Dixon petitioned for a dissolution, of his marriage with Isobel Dixon, and in which the accused gave evidence. James Henry. Duncan Campbell, a labourer, said he had sometimes done bailiff's work for the accused. On May 26 last it was arranged that he should go out to Islington with a Mrs. Dixon in a egr. "I was supposed to get on intimate terms with her, and so forth," he said. The accused gave witness various directions concerning names, etc., and later Batchelor reiterated the arrangements. Witness was to tell Mrs. Dixon he was a fellowworker of her husband and would take her out to Islington. He was to stop the car on the journey so that the accused could come on the scene and challenge the woman. Witness proceeded to describe how the arrangements were carried out, and how the accused did appear when the car stopped at Sockburn. Campbell denied that there had been any misconduct, and said he had been paid 30s for the part he played in making the car trip to Islington. Evidence was also given by Court officials concerning the accused's statements in the Supreme Court. Mrs. Dixon, who gave her age as 18J years, said she had" been living- apart from her husband practically since their marriage in 1932. On May 25 she wrote to him at Islington asking him to come to see her with a view to attempting a fresh' start together. On the following evening a man came to the house and explained that he was a friend of her husband's and would take her out to see him. She agreed to go. On the way he stopped the car to have a drink, in which she did not share, and, while the car was stopped, Batchelor opened the door and accused them of misconduct. Actually she was sitting in one corner while the man, who had given the name of Williams, but whom she now knew as Campbell, was in the other corner helping himself to a second drink. She went to Batchelor's office, where he asked her to sign, a statement saying that she had committed adultery with a man. she would not name.- At first she refused, but he made threats, and. eventually, as she was tired, worn out, and wanted to go home, she signed. Batehelor pleaded not guilty to all the charges. The Magistrate said that in respect to the charge of attempting to dissuade a. witness ■ from giving evidence, the evidence was scarcely strong enough to -warrant him sending the accused for trial. The accused was allowed bail of self £500 and-one sutety of £500.