CLERGYMAN CHARGED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18195, 14 September 1922, Page 6

CLERGYMAN CHARGED.

CASE OF REV. S. R. ORR. KEMARKABLE FEATURES. ILLNESS OF DEFENDANT. IBS TKLEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION. J WELLINGTON. Wednesday. A case presenting some remarkable aspects was before Mr. Riddell, S.M., today. The -complaint Of the plaintiff, Nellie Evans, was that she suspected that the defendant, the Rev. Robertson Orr, on August 28 caused her to receive a document containing a threat that, unless she discharged and (or) gave up the judgment or record recovered in the Supreme Court against Orr and his wife, dated August 18, 1922, two persons being witnesses who gav o material evidence on behalf of plaintiff in the said judgment would be accused of crime, to wit, perjury, in the evidence which they gave, Orr then well knowing the contents of the document. The defendant did not appear, and Mr. Jellicoe, for plaintiff, asked that he should be called. Mr. Mazengarb, for the defendant, said his client's health prevented him from coming to Wellington. Some years ago ho suffered a serious mental breakdown and was granted leave of absence for six months. The strain of the recent Court proceedings • was so great that he was given further leave from his church. He preferred not to take a holiday, but decided on a change of occupation and had since been engaged in a campaign on behalf of the Armenian Relief Fund. On Monday he attempted to return to Wellington but collapsed, and a doctor had given a certificate forbidding him to travel and confining him to bed. He asked for a week's adjournment, but intimated that even then it might be some time before his client could appear in Court. ( Mr. Jellicoe opposed, saying:— The offence we allege was committed on August 28, and on that day his mental condition was such that he was able to lock up his house against the sheriff and keep it locked from that day to this. Ho was able to abscond from Wellington in his motor-car and dispose of his motorcar in Palmerston North. After eluding the police, he was discovered on board the Mararoa on his way to Christchnrch, and was served in his cabin with the process which he has now been called on to answer." Mr. Jellicoe added that the defendant went away from Wellington on I Friday knowing the charge was to be heard the next day. He had, in Christchurch, executed a bill of sale over his effects in Wellington to his father-in-law. He contended the medical certificates showed nothing more unusual than was the case when people were charged with criminal offences, and there was no justification for the application Such a serious charge should not be indefinitely postponed. Mr. Mazengarb said he aid not ask for Detective Tongue, m evidence, said he had served the defendant on board the Mararoa. Orr said the whole matter could be easily explained. It had been arranged bv the Christchurch lodge of his society.' He understood the defendant to refer to the letter. In answer to Mr. Mazengarb, witness said he knew other charges were pending and that counsel bad offered to facilitate the service of these proceedings. He would prefer not to say whether he had to complain of witnesses being tampered •with. He had reasons for this. The magistrate decided to adjourn the case for a week.