NOT GUILTY.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVIII, Issue 10737, 7 November 1928, Page 5

NOT GUILTY.

riawuitr CHARGE FAILS (Press Association.i ■ ' ’• Dunedin, Nov. g. ' After a retirement of about a quarter of an hour, the jury hearing the charge of perjury against George Augustus Herbert, returned to the Court with a verdict of not guilty, and the prisoner was discharged. The hearing of the case engaged tho attention of the Court nil, day yesterday, and up till the luncheon adjournment to-day. “ ■ The perjury which Herbert was alleged to have committed, was in Stating ‘in evidohco in a. slander notion against him some months ago tl|at Henry Thomas Brown had asked him to' have the speedometer of his oin ter car sot back bqfore it was sold, and that lie made that stated merit'!u Steelman’s garage to a man named Carter and the two Steelmans; -The Crown maintained the. car was not brought into Todd’s gam.--to'linVo a speedometer set back, that the speedometer was not set back, and that the two Steelmans were not present when the statement was ft!" loged tb b'c made. j The jury retired at 12.40 and r<v turned few minutes before 1 o’clock with a verdict of not guilty. . Mr Adams for the Crown rclerreo to the fact that there was a similar charge against William Kavanngh Mercer, and said he would suggest .to thb Solicitor-General Mint tli'e decis ion in Herbert’s case Iri taken as deciding Maker's case. Ho proposed to ask that tlie other ease stand clown bill next session, and to anm for a nolle prosequiMr Hanlon, for the defence, s'---

gosted that the Crown Prosecute*should wire -away at once;. and not leave the ease hanging over Mercer's Head for so loii’g. ... ' tiis Honor Mr Justice MacGregor ao-roed that the case should stai d down till the end of the present; hst till Mr Adams received advice from Wellington.