MAORI PERJURY CASES.

North Otago Times, Volume CV, Issue 13859, 20 April 1917, Page 2

MAORI PERJURY CASES.

SENSATIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

ACCUSATIONS AGAINST CONSTABLES.

COUNSEL FOR DEFENCE REPRIMANDED.

(Per Press Association.! HAMILTON, April 10.

At the conclusion of M: Lundon's address in tlie charge of perjury against a native in the Supreme Court this afternoon, Mr Mays, representing the Crown, said that counsel for the defence hail told the jury in effect that two of the constables who had given evidence in the ease lud committed i.erjiirv in an affiliation ease at Auckland, and ho was in serious doubt wlmt should bo done in the matter, These constables had not been asked a single question in the present case, relating to that matter, and he thought lie should have an opportunity to interview them. In his opinion, it was one of the most serious statements ever made to a jury, and Mr Lundon had so abused his position as counsel that it was a question whether it should not form the ground for an application for a new trial, in ease of an acquittal, .After further discussion, Tlis Honour said that had it not been for the expenses incurred in connection with the case, and the difficulty of witnesses attending the Court, he should be very much inclined to quash the whole proceedings, It was a most unfortunate thing that, counsel ' for—-the—defence should have allowed himself to be carried away, and refer to these matters. The witnesses concerned should have been questioned in the matter when in the box, and not allowed to remain under n slur that they had been guilty of perjury, The cases were adjourned until Fridaymorning,