“ALL A CONSPIRACY ?”

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 12009, 11 December 1924, Page 5

“ALL A CONSPIRACY ?”

FATHER ACCUSED OF INGEST ONE GIRL BAYS THE STORY WAS “MADE UP.”' “FATHER TOO STRICT.” ' Per Press Association. NEW PLYMOUTH, December. 16. A sensational turn was taken dur:ng proceedings in the Supreme- Court’at New Plymouth to-day, when three- witnesses denied the truth of material points in tte written statements they had mo.de to the police and in the sworn evidence they had given, in the Magistrate’s Court, The case- was that in which Samuel Percy Julian, of Tikorangi. was being tried on six counts of having committed the crime of inrest against four of h:S tteughtera. his plea being not guilty to all charges. > The eldest of the girls concerned gave evidence on the lines of her precious testimony, charging; her father with two offences against net, -and denying that she had been interfered with by anyone tea-. SECOND GIRL'S STORY.

The. Crown then called another daughter, aged 18, who had also previously alleged that llor father had offellded Against her. Tho Witness was sworn, and tits usual formal procedure prior to the giving of evidence had been completed when the Grown Prosecutor put a- diretm question to tire girl; asking her if her- father had interfered with her. In a low voice the girl replied: “No.” She repeated too negative- when the question was again put to her. THE JUDGE’S QUESTIONS. Hit Honour (to witness): Why have you gone back on your story like tliii P Is it to help your mother or save your fatber ? Witness did not answer. His Honour ; Who advised you to f» hack on yew story p— -Nobody j. now of. - You suddenly made up your mind to tall the truth ? Is that it P—-No. The girl denied that her mother had discussed rile case with her since the hearing in the lower'court, or that she had diSoufesed the care with any lawyer. She admitted having been taken kfefoife a, Justice of the Peace, whom she And her sisters had told they had been telling untruths. A CONSPIRACY. At this stage nuiuereue questions put to the girl were not answered. Asked why she told the start to the police, tho girl said she made it up because her father was too strict, and .would not let her and her sisters go to dances. Witness said her brothers were in the conspiracy, hut said she did not know who suggested it. Another sister, who had made charges against her father, now denied them, and at this stage the examination wqs adjourned till to-morrow.