WESTPORT. April 4.

North Otago Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3027, 5 April 1882, Page 2

WESTPORT. April 4.

The lonqr - pendinsr cases, Welch v. Eugene O'Connor, John Diok, John Giltnore, and William M'l^ean, ohargod in Bept*mbor 1878, by forged deed

of FubmiHsion to arbitration of disputn between Johnston and O'Connor, with conspiracy to defraud Jimcs Johnston of LI SO, has boon finished. James Johnston deposed that the deed whs a forgery, and his siunaturo and those of Wi! iain Pitt, solicitor, and Leonard Rfid, h licitor, also upon tho deed as attesting, were forgeries, and unlike their proper signatures. Sydney Weloh, the informmt, q >vo similar evidence. Leonard Freewim Reid, solicitor, Timaru, deposed tint ho prepared the deed, ami Johnston signal in his presence, and O'Connor and tlm others after iho contems were pio perly examined. After several other witnesses had been examine), Mr H.iseld<>n, for acensod, stated tliat it was absurd t<i address the court in defence, and would simply asked Mr ltevell, tho magistrate, to dismiss the information, and commit Welch and Johnston for wilful perjury. Mr Rovell then discharged accused, and ordered Welch and Johnston into custody for perjury. When discharging acoused, Mr Ruvell stated that the charge was utterly groundless, and commented on the fnct that Johnston had completely altered the signatures to the service deed. Johnston v. Edward George Briton Moss, solicitor, Auckland, a separate charge of forging tho same, was finished to-day. Evidence was similar to the above, excepting that Johnston stated ho believed tho deed was in Moss's writing, and not Reids, and so laid the information against Moss In dismissing this information, Mr Rovell said he regretted, as the law now stood, he could not refuse to take the information without making a mandamus. lie staled that the evidence in the case completely vindicated Moss, whom, he said, left the Court without any stain, and it was a matter of great regret that this case should have been tho means of dragging a solicitor from so great a distance as Tanranga. Johnston w,n committed for trial. Great interest was taken in tho case.