BREACH OF THE CORRUPT PRACTICES ACT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 6273, 24 December 1881, Page 5

BREACH OF THE CORRUPT PRACTICES ACT.

HON. C. J. PHARAZYN COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. [BV TELEGRAPH. —PP.ES3 ASSOCIATION-.] "Wellington, Friday. The Hon. C. J. Pharazyu was to-day committed for trial on a charge of plural voting at the recent election for Thorndon. Bail was allowed in his recognizances of £5. The Bench stated that they were perfectly satisfied with the explanation he had given, but they felt bound to send the case to a higher Court, as the question of fact as one for a jury. [BY TELEORJPn.—OWN CORKESI'OSDENT.J Great interest was excitcd to-day by the trial of cases under the Gaming and Lotteries Act, and the Corrupt Practices Prevention Act. In the latter case, the Hon. C. J. Pharazyn, M.L C-, was charged with personation by voting at both booths for Thorndon election on the 9th inst. The accused is over SO years old. Hebehaved witligreatcccentricity . He refused the assistance of counsel, and insisted on conducting his own case. He also disdainfully rejected an offer of a chair on the door of the Court, and persisted in standing in the prisoner's dock like a common "drank," decliuing even a seat in the dock. He made a rambling statement in defence, and wound up with an irrelevant attack on 'he Press generally apropos of nothing at all. He created great amusement bv reciting imaginary articles and telegrams, which lie declared would appear ill the New Zealand papers, setting for.h and commenting on his delinquencies.