MISTAKEN IDENTITY

Northern Advocate, 4 October 1921, Page 5

MISTAKEN IDENTITY

AN ALIBI PROVED,

A somewhat aimusing case was heard in the Whangarei Magistrate's Court this morning, before Mr F. H. Levien, S.M., when the police proceeded against William L. Heather for allegedly riding a bicycle without a lamp past the Bank of New Zealand corner at 9.30 p.m. on a Saturday night. Constable Johnson stated that he had been on duty at the corner and had noticed the cyclist riding from the direction of the Town Hall towards Water street. He recognised, him as defendant and called out to him to stop, without getting a response. Defendant secured a statement from the constable that the time of the incident was at about 9.30, and certainly before the pictures came out. He then gave evidence on his own behalf and described his movements on the particular Saturday night in questionHe had gone to the pictures and had left his bicycle at Smith's greengrocer's shop.* Being a Pelnianist memory training student, he distinctly remembered that he did not leave the pictures nntil the singing of the National Anthem. He had walked along Bank street to the shop, had taken liis fcicyclo, lit the lamp and ridden direct fro>m there homeward along Water street. A. E. Smith gave corroborative evidence relative to the bicycle having been in his shop throughout the evening until about .10.30. Consequently the information was dismissed, as also was defendant's jocular suggestion that he should be. allowed expenses agr.in.st the policc.