COURTS AND OFFENCES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 30 August 1929, Page 8

COURTS AND OFFENCES.

JUDGE'S COMMENT ON WITNESS’ EVIDENCE. (By Telegraph—Press Asso-iat-ion. ) GISBORNE, Aug. 29. In directing the jury to return b verdict of not guilty in the case in which Monte Glover, alias Gossett, was charged with burglary at the premises of the Tuparoa Trading Company, Mr Justice Macgregor, referring to the evictenoe of a native witness, said ; “In my ■opinion it would he unsafe to convict anyone on this man’s evidence. He is obviously a liar and a- thief. , This morning he tells us that tlie evidence lie gave yesterday was a pack of lies,, that he was not there and knew nothing about Glover, having been there. The fact that an accomplice contradicts liis evidence casts, the gravest doubt upon the matter and it would be unsafe and dangerous to convict anyone on such evidence. The evidence of a convicted thief and obviously a confirmed liar’. It -is better than ten guilty men should escape than one innocent man should he found guilty.” . The jury immediately gave a verdict of acquittal.

CHARGE OF DRAWING UP FALSE, DOCUMENT. HAMILTON, Aug. 29. Walter Leslie OUssaiek and Clifford Ernest Corrin were charged! at the Supreme Court with drawing up a false document. According to the police the accused men posted 30s to an Auckland bookmaker as a bet on doubles. Finding that the mail: would not reaidi Auckland, in time, they sent a letter to the bookmaker, ostensibly signed by the Postmaster at TokirSma (near Taulnaruiiui), informing him that- be .held a registered letter from; Corrin aind Cus--sack. The bookmaker handed the letter to the police. The double won £3OO. . , . Corrin pleaded guilty. Air Justice Ostler. after bearing counsels plea that there was no intent to defraud, fined Corrin £lO.

Cussack pleaded not guilty. WOMAN CHARGED WITH BIGAMY. AUCKLAND. Aug. 29. A middle-aged woman named. 1 Minni© Ho r rocks was charged with bigamy, having gone through the form of marriage at Auckland in December. 1921, with George Earle, while' her husband. William- -Arthur Meredith; was still alive. The latter, who is now a'.tailor at Christchurch.- gave evidence that the accused was in his employ in Monmouthshire as a, t-ailoress when he married her in 1912. She stated that she was then a widow.

in a statement- to the police the accused said tliat her first husband died in Pretoria. . She then went to Meredith. lp't did hot consider that she nas married to him. bemuse Meredith lmd told her lie was already married. After she had finished - drawing Meredith's war nay (oil her marriage, lines with him) she - nine to New Zealand, and lived with a chef at an Auckland hotel later meeting ‘Bari and inarrvine him. The accused was committed for (■i'll hail being allowed.

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