DIFFERENT STORY

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 11 December 1924, Page 5

DIFFERENT STORY

WITNESSES DENY TRUTH. OF PREVIOUS EVIDENCE. SUPREME COURT SENSATION. (by TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATIONNEW PLYMOUTH, Dec. 10. A sensational turn was taken during proceedings in the Supreme Court at New Plymouth to-day, when three witnesses denied the truth of material points in written statements they had made to the police and in sworn evidence they gave in the Magistrate’s Court. The case was that in which Samuel Percy Julian, of Tikorangi, was being tried on six counts of having committed the crime of incest against four of his daughters, his plea being not guilty to all the charges. The eldest of the girls concerned gave evidence on the lines of her previous testimony, charging, her father with two offences against her, and denying that she had been interfered with by anyone else. Th® Crown then called another daughter, aged 18, who had also previously alleged that her father had offended against her. The witness was sworn, and the Crown Prosecutor put a direct question to the girl, asking; her if her father had interfered with her. In a low voice the girl renlied “No ” repeating the negative when th© question was again put to her. His Honor (to witness): Why have you gone hack on your story like this? Is it to help your mother or save your rather ?—Wltness did not answer. His Honor: Who advised you to go back on your story?—Nobody I know of.

You suddenly made up your mind to tell the truth? Is that it?—No. The girl denied that her mother had discussed the case with-her since the hearing in the Lower Court, or that she had discussed the case with any lawyer. , She admitted having been taken before a Justice of the Peace, whom she and her sisters had told they had been telling untruths. At this stage numerous questions put to the girl were not answered. -v. Asked why she told the story to the police, the girl said she made it an because her father was too strict ‘ and would not let her and her sisters go to dances. Witness said her brothers were m the conspiracy, hut she said she did not know who suggested it. A nother sister who had made charges against her father now denied them, and at this stage the examination was adjourned till to-morrow. '