BATCHELOR CASE

Hokitika Guardian, 10 February 1934, Page 2

BATCHELOR CASE

JURY’S VERDICT OF GUILTY

PERJURY AND OTHER CHARGES.

(Per Prett A.ssociationr— Copyright .)

CHRISTCHURCH, February 9.

Guilty on all counts, with the exception of tone, withdrawn by the Crown, wgs the verdict of the jury at the close of the ease against John Black Batchelor, private inquiry agent, which occupied the attention of the Supreme Court for two days, and which was not concluded until after 10 o’clock this evening. ;

Tlio charges on which Batchelor was found guilty were: Attempting to prevent the course cf justice (two counts); fabricating evidence with the intention of misleading the course of justice • making a statement on oath amounting to perjury; and attempting to dissuade by threats a person from giving evidence.

The charge withdrawn by the Crown was one of attempting to dissuade by a bribe, a person from giving evidence. Batchelor was remanded for sentence to the end of the criminal session. No evidence was called for the defence.

In his address to the jury, Mr Leicester said that the proof of the first four charges rested almost entirely on the evidence of two witnesses whose characters and demeanour in the witness box as not to inspire that Batchelor’s ughou t, however undesirable,were foolish and not criminal.

The jury were absent for an hour and 50 minutes.