GUILTY OF PERJURY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8304, 7 June 1907, Page 8

GUILTY OF PERJURY.

AN AUCKLAND CASE. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, June 7. A wellndressed young man named Frederick William Lucas, was charged before Mr Justice Denniston at the Supreme Court to-day with having committed perjury at the Magistrate's Court, Pukekohe, on March 7th and Bth. Accused, who pleaded not guilty, was defendant in a paternity case, heard at Pukekohe, and in giving evidence, swore that at no time had he been alone with plaintiff, Eva Hart, and was not called to Hart's gate on August Bth, 1906, by Nellie Hart, but went there of his own accord. These statements were in contradiction to the witnesses for the plaintiff, and were the subjects of the charge. Accused swore to these statements on March 7th, and repeated them next day, when he was cautioned and examined by plaintiff's solicitor. Eva Hart, aged seventeen, deposed that on February Ist, 1906, she was alone with the accused, whom she met when she was returning from the railway station, about two miles from her home. As to the incident at the gate of the house, the witness said Lucas did not come voluntarily; she saw him passing the house, and requested her sister to run out and shout to him to stop. This Avas done, and witness had a conversation with accused. The first remark made by Lucas was, "What do you want me for?" Nellie Hart, sister of the last witness, corroborated the previous witness's statements. Accused called a number of witnesses, with a view to proving an alibi. The jury found a verdict of guilty. Sentence was deferred till to-morrow.