SENTENCE REPEALED

Evening Star, Issue 19893, 15 June 1928, Page 12

SENTENCE REPEALED

Voluntary corroboration of ACCUSED’ TALE [P*b United Press Association.! AUCKLAND, June 14.. A remarkable incident occurred m the Police Court to-day, when Guy Carney, aged twenty-three, an American seaman, was charged with stealing two coats belonging to Ihomas W. Fulford. The theft was alleged to have been committed at Fulford s Hat, to which ho had invited the accused one night a week ago. , . ~ . The accused stated that lulford remarked on the chilliness of the night, and said that if witness would accept his invitation to his flat he would give him two coats which would be warmer. While ho was there Fulford made suggestions. Resenting these, Carney said he threatened to smack if ultord. When witness left ho took with him the coats, as well as 11s in cash, which he said, was put into Ins hand by Fulford. . ~ , “ Here is a man trying to blacken the character of another, ’ said the magistrate (Mr F. K. Hunt). Here is a man making vile and filthy suggestions ,and asking this court to believe them. This sort of thing is abominable. The accused will be sentenced to six months’ imprisonment, with hard labour. Later a young man who was in court made a statement to the police, and when acquainted of his statements the magistrate ordered the accused to be brought back. In evidence, the new witness said: “ I recognised Fulford when I first saw him in court this morning, and when 1 heard Carney get six months I had to say what I knew. Fulford come up to me once and took me for a drive in his car to the domain, where he made suggestions to me. I told him to ‘ cut it out,’ and left him when I got to town.” Witness detailed the incidents which, he alleged, happened in the car.

While the witness was giving evidence Fulford said: “ I have never seen this man in my life before.” The Magistrate; “1 am surprised. This puts a new complexion on things. Fortunately I ,ave not entered up ray decision in the record book, and after hearing this new evidence 1 am not prepared to let that sentence stand. 1 will repeal it, and will remand the accused to enable the police to make inquiries into these very grave allegations. Accordingly, the accused was remanded to appear to-morrow, when the question whether he should haye his liberty during the week’s remand which was granted will be decided.