Untitled

Grey River Argus, 13 May 1938, Page 8

Addressing a jury in the Supreme . Court when summing up in a case heard last week at Palmerston North, His Honor Mr Justice Blair commented that there were differences in che evidence given by several witnesses on one set of circumstances. That was natural, he said, adding that the Court became suspicious when the evidence of all the witnesses in a case was given with meticulous care and agreed in every particular. Differences occurred through different persons noticing particular things, and all suffered from that disability. There were certain things noticed particularly and certain others were entirely overlooked. One could test that without very great difficulty by taking three persons who knew the Palmerston North town clock, for instance. All would know the clock, but if asked what marks there were on it most probably one would say there were numerals on the clock, another that there were none. It was suggested by counsel sometimes that in such a case the jury should infer that there was no clock at all! (The Palmerston North town clock is marked by short black lines, not numerals).