GREYMOUTH MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 May 1917, Page 2

GREYMOUTH MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS

ALLEGED KAISE DECLARATION. ACCORD CU.MM IT' t KD IT HI TIDAL. A sequel to the ivcciit municipal elections. was. heard fit du-. Greymouth Magistrate's* Court lids morning by Mr. T. Jluteliison. R.M., when Robert Mclntyre (Mr. Joyce) pleaded not guilty to several informations of having given fahe answers, to the Return hip. Officer at Greymouth on the doth April, during the election , f the Greymouth Borough Council--1 as and member:', of the Grey Hospital and Charitable Aid Hoard. Mr. M. llanr.au appeared on behalf of 1C 11. Denton (Returning Officer for the Ik)rough of Greymouth). The chare :s alleged that accused. in answer to a question by the Returning Officer as to whether he (the defendant) was ‘'Joint Mclntyre, toplied in the affirmative and received hahot paper.; in respect of the name of "T im" Mclntyie, whose name, was on the r 11 in respect of a residential <p: ilification. The defendant, who is a resident of Cobdon, had never been on the GieymouUi Borough roll, The "John" Mclntyre 'was, defendant s brother, The lall ]• 1 1 i.H to get registered before the roll m respect ■ to a license he held in connection with a vailing business,. lihc Returning Ulrica r stated that he could not- be enrolled on such qualification. The defendant had called at two booths, and, fie i'ng iof used ballot papers by J. Keating (Deputy-Returning Officer! at ilie Town Hall, went to the technical school booth and the question there being put, "Are yon John McIntyre !" defendantt said "yes," and was- given the papeis, wherewith ho voted. Mr. Joyce contended.that there was, hat one oli'ence in the “livo-chamber-<d" infoi niations. '! here were in respect of "alleged false answer," and should he proceeded with summarily. [evidence was, taken as. in an nidictalde case. Crank lludd '‘’Denton, Returning Officer for the Borough of Grey inoath, rated that t!uj defendant, spoke to witness, about being enrolled prior to the election. Defendant was informed bv witness that he.had not any of t!i o neses'-ary qnrdifieations for enrolment. Defendant had the notion that anyone paying revenue to I he,Rorough had a Debt to be enrolled. Defendant conGdercd that he had such right in rer est to a wlieel tax. Witness had gvne hack as far as I!) I 1 and had not. nnd ihfendant's name on the roll, v.-.-is a. ‘‘John Mclntyre, carter, IT she! t Street.’ 1 on (lie roll. As returning officer, it was. Ids duty to s n'iitinise the. rolls, after an election .re! in the course of such scrutiny, he found that "John Mclntyre’s,” vote 1 ad been marked as recorded at the • Action of nine Borough Councillors on the ‘2nth April. On the sarffe data tins Hospital and Charitable Aid Board ilection was held, as, well as a poll on the half-holiday arid Sunday picture questions. John Keating. Frederick James Johnston, and J hillip Albert Anderson were among the , deputyreturning officers appointed by witness for the purpose si of the poll. Joh'a Keating was. appointed to the "’own Hall and Anderson nnd Johnston at the technical school.

To Mr. Joyce : He knew the defendant to be a carter here for year,:. lie believed he knew another carter named Mclntyre, the John Mclntyre on the i oil, but waa not absolutely certain. 'J lie defendant might have done odd jobs carting for the Eorough. It was less than twelve months t'.inee defendant spoke to witness, out.side the eouit, in respect to carolling. April. 1915, was the date i>f the previous election, but witness could nut sa. v if defendant then voted. Someone voted in 191") as "John Mclntyre," but as, to whether it was the proper John Mclntyre, witness could not say. To Mr. Hannan : The man witness believed to be John Mclntyre 'was not the defendant.. He could point out "John" Mclntyre, who used to "work for McLean's, if he saw him. John Keating, foreman on the ■"• barf, and deputy-returning officer at the Town Hall No. 2 Booth (H to N) on the 25th April, said he knew the

accused Robert Mclntyre very well; a.1'.0 John Mclntyre, wiib wa, a carter

Kioiiie years ago and had since worked cm the wharf. The latter had been one of witness's neighbors*. About the commencement of this year John Mclntyre and family had. left Grey-' mouth for Ho-Ho. In the 25th April. the accused presented himself at witness's booth. Witness] told him his name wag not on the roll —that it was hi', brother ''Jack." Accused said his brother Jack was not a carter, witness replying that he (John Mclnfyio) had been a carter when his name had been put on the roll. Accused did not apply to witness for voting papers. Witre-s told accused to wait, and that they could talk the matter over.. ff witness wa.i busy at the time. Accused appeared to be annoyed, and walked out of the booth. To Mr. Joyce : The accused was a carter and had lived in Herbert Street rears ago. John Mclntyre'

worked for l>ere years' ago, since which time he went to Australia. •• V--t> he remained about three years returning about-January, 1013, and had not, to witness's knowledge, been emting s-ince, but had worked oh the wharf.

To Mr. ITannan: T'p to twelve months' ago, and since his return from Australia, John Mclntyre resided in rf •I,'it Street. It would lie about eight years, since the accused married ;:nd left Herbert Street. Mr. Joyce: lie has been married live years. Willie::.' : It might be live years. Phillip Albeit Anderson, accountant, who acted as one of the deputyr, turning officers at the technical school in the division "M to Z," said he knew llio- accused. He presented himself at the booth day. A number (opposite the name of John Mcbityre) was called Iry the poll clerk .• ml wiine.'s prepared papers, and

pap-'i- is for John Mclntyre. and you ni-. j Robert Mclntyre.' - Witness knew loth John and Robert bv sight. Ae-

(":•;• il said hi* name was "Robert .1 )]in." Aeoused had taken the paper; before witness really recognised him. Witness tin n conferred with Deputy Johnston, and they derided to put <p! .'stilus provided by the Act. When accused came hack, and before putting the papers in the box, witness asked,

rcadiiur from a oop v of the Act plied:'"An 1 you Hie person, John Melntvre, appearing on the rollf and uauuujy the qualification. Accused said, "Yes." Witness asked if he '•■'.censed) still possessed the qualification. The accused said, "That's my vote. I claim that vote." He seemed to be annoyed and said : "What do you want to put this up against a man for?" Accused was told that it ]i- voted he did so at his own riskAfter the questions accused put the paneiv in the ballot boxes. To Mr. Joyce : Witness did not hear the accused apply for papers. "When the poll clerk called the num- '■ '■ witness prepared the papers for John McTntyre, and it was after handinu' out the papers that witness looked up and said: ''You are Robert MeIntyle." The latter said his name was" Robert John. Mclntyre, and that h ■■■ was the "only carter in Greymouth. Accuu'd was just going to put his pipers, in the box when the questions were put to him. Witness said to ac-

ciiSL-d : "Before you exercise that vote 1 v, ill have to put the questions! provided l;y the Act." Witnes:; did not then call the accused b v name. Frederick James Johnston, who acted as one of the deputy-returning of-flf-1>: at t]ie technical school, said he knew the accused, but was not quite sure as to knowing the brothel", John. When the poll clerk called out the number, witness looked at accused n«.;d said, "John Melntyre:'" accused replying "Hubert John." Witness made up two of the four ballot papers and handed them to the last witness, who had said : "That's, not John Melntyre; that's Robert Melntyre.''

When the question, "Are you John MeJntyie?" etc., was put, accused said, ''Yes." : To Mr. Joyce: lie did not hear any conversation in which accused said lie was the only carter ill the di*r liict. Alter accused said he was Robert John Mclivtyre the papets were handed to him. it was when the third quest inn was put : ''Do yon still possess, tho (lualilication '/" that

aeeuseu 1 said lie elainied the vote for Herbert Street, although he lived at Cobduu. Theiv was a certain amount <>f conversation between accused and the last witness previous to accused saying he lived at Obden. Kilecn iieaphy, poll chrk at tho i 'clinical school, staled the accuse.l gave the name "'Melntyre" in answer I > the usual quest i<u. Witness, called oui the name of "John Melntyre, cartes," from the roll, and accused replied, "Yes." Witness then eailed in!: the number opposite John Melntyse's: name and the papers were prepared by Hie deputies, j His Worship hekWthat there was. a prima facie ease to go before a. jury. 'The accused, who reserved his defence, ];leaded not guilty and wasi committed for trial at tho June sitting? of thi- Supreme Court at Greymoulli. Rail wasi granted and fixed at. £lO and one surety of £lO.