A SERIOUS CHARGE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 1886, 10 August 1920, Page 5

A SERIOUS CHARGE.

CASK AT WELLINGTON" COURT. (Per Press Association.) , WELLINGTON, .August 3. The healing was continued at the Supreme Court '.his afternoon of the charge against James llayne of using an •unlawful instrument to procure abortion Neylon, who was formerly charged together with llayne, but against whom no evidence was called, and v.ho was therefore acquitted, was again placed in the witness box. lie denied having had anything to do' with the gill, or that she had ever (old him b i- condition. Witness declared that the girl's statement at the earlier trials were lies. Th,' giil. Gladys Hatehelor, then jilered the box, but n fused to answer any question-. The Judge adjourned the hearing it'll 11 o'clock to-morrow morning. Mr Wilford mentioned the malter cif bail for llayne, and the Judge r. plied, "I don't suppose lie "will run away; 1 don't si e how he pan run away; perhaps if he did. it. would save its a lot of trouble." WELLINGTON, August 10. After a series of vicissitudes unprecedented in thi- history of criminal trials in New Zealand, the ca.se against James Reynolds llayne. of Dunedin, chemist, charged with unlawfully using tin instrument to procuro abortion, came to a sudden end this morning. Gladys Hatehelor was again placed in the witness box. but would not reply to any questions. Mr Macassey then entered a nolle prosequi and llayne left the dock. The Crown Prosecutor made a declaration that it seemed to him that the ends of justice were being defeated l;y a conspiracy of silence. Mr Macassey said that he would deem it his duty to consider whether Neylon should not be prosecuted for perjury. Mr Justice Edwards said he thought ifc

his duty to say that if Neylon had followed the example of the girl Batchelor and stood mute it would not have been considered half as bad as his conduct. If ho had done that there might have been somo sympathy with him, for in taking that course ho would have been facing the punishment inevitable as a consequence. Neylon had committed perjury, and it was undoubtedly the duty of those charged with the administration of justice to see, and that speedily, whether Neylon could not be convicted for perjury. "It may be," said His Honour, "that there would be difficulty about that on account of the contumacy of the girl Batchelor. Ho

might escape, but I hope not, because it is plain he has committed perjury of the worst description." Regarding the girl Batchelor, His Hon our said that if she had spoken he would have recommended her release, but ho could not do that now.