CHARGE OF PERJURY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20481, 5 February 1930, Page 14

CHARGE OF PERJURY.

STATEMENTS BY GIRL. WITNESS IN COURT CASE. QUESTIONS NOT ANSWERED. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] CHRISTCHURCH, Tuesday. Following the refusal in the Police Court to-day of a witness to answer questions put to her by Chief-Detective Carrol and the magistrate, Mr. E. D. Mosley, and her subsequent denial of alleged statements made, the magistrate directed tho police to bring the witness before tho Children's Court on a charge of perjury. "No matter how young the girl is she cannot be allowed to come to Court and perjure herself in this way," said the magistrate.

The matter arose during the hearing of a serious charge against a taxidriver, Arthur Albert Kerridgo, with whom the girl, who was under 16, was stated to have stayed out all night. The girl persistently refused to answer a question put to her by tho chief detective aijd contradicted the evidence of a doctor, in spite of tho magistrate's warning. The chief detective said that in face of tho evidence ho could not proceed with the charge against Kerridge. " Of course the girl will have to bo charged with perjury," said the magistrate. " She cannot be allowed to swear falsely as she has on the doctor's evidence. Whether she has been prompted to do so or not 1 would not like to say. No matter how young she may bo she cannot be allowed to perjure herself like this. I direct the police to bring her before the Children's Court on a charge of perjury. " Tho charge against Kerridge is dismissed." added the magistrate. " However, this will not bar him from being brought up again." The chief detective said tho mother of the girl had been hostile to the prosecution all through, and at his suggestion tho girl was committed to the Probation Home in tho meantime.