CHARGE OF PERJURY AGAINST MR. ACTON ADAMS, M.H.R.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume I, Issue 3, 21 April 1880, Page 2

CHARGE OF PERJURY AGAINST MR. ACTON ADAMS, M.H.R.

[per united press association.] The charge of perjury against Mr. Acton Adams, occupied the bench ot justices — consisting of John Sharp, Hon. N. Edwards, B. Reeves, P. M. Donald, T. McKay — two days, and at the close of the case for the prosecution, Mr. Connolly, who appeared for the defendant, was stopped by the Bench, who said they wanted to adjourn for a few minutes, and at the expiration of the adjournment they dismissed the case, saying that there was no perjury, and that the defendant, in alluding to agreements, meant such agreement as would be binding under the Statute of Frauds. Mr. Connolly asked the Bench, owing to the position the defendant li3ld, that they should further state that there was no ground for bringing the charge. The chairman, after consulting with the others, said that they had stated already that there was no perjury. At the conclusion of the case a fracas occurred at the door of the Nelson Club. Mr. Bunny, who was junior counsel for the prosecution in the charge of perjury, was returning to his chamber, having legal books and decuments under his arm, when he was assailed by Mr. Percy Adams, brother of the defendant, who struck Mr. Bunny with a horsewhip on the head. They closed, and blows passed freely, blood streaming nmn Mr. Adams 1 moustache. Mr. Teschemaker and Mr. Langley Adams w re then drawn into the fray, which appeared likely to result in a serious breach of the peace, but, on the advice of friends, the parties entered the club and separated. When Mr. Teschemaker reappeared in the street he was cheered by a large crowd which had congregated together, and shortly after, on Mr. Bunny leaving, he was cheered vociferously, whereupon he addressed the assemblage, claiming that he had done to the last his duty as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of New Zealand in his conduct of the case. He had had unpleasant things to say, but if the same necessity occurred again to-morrow, he should be ready to do his- duty, whereupon he was further cheered, and groans were given for the Bench. j