BROTHERS IN DISTRESS.

NZ Truth, Issue 218, 28 August 1909, Page 6

BROTHERS IN DISTRESS.

The Shaw Perjury Cases.

'Jennings Shaw, of Addington, convicted of perjury, was sentenced at Christ•church on Saturday last. He was originally charged with: obscene language • and •assaulting a tram conductor, but swore, m the face of an array of witnesses, that j Jic wasn't on the car at the time. He < ■was -backed up m this perjury by his broither Hans, and when Jennings was convicted, Hans chance of escaping didn't jook rosy. Another jury was empanelled, arid after consultation with his client, 'Lawyer Donnelly decided not to crossexamine witnesses for the Crown, to refrain from addressing the jury, and to offer no evidence for the defence. His Honor seemed troubled about this decision, und wanted to know if it met with the lull approbation of Hans. Thai individual, still stoutly; maintaining his innocence, said that it did. Mr Donnelly explained that the case for the defence was imuch weaker than m the trial of Jennings, who couldn't be placed m the witness-box after being convicted of perIjury. Counsel explained that he had offered to relinquish his fees, not only m fthis case, but also m the case of «*enaiings Shaw, if Hans desired to employ another lawyer, hut Hans refused to- take advantage of the offer. -A verdict of gnilty, with A STRONG RECOMMEM3ATION: TO MERCY fwas returned. Later, his Honor said that iJennlngs Shaw bad denied his guilt out of bravado, and deliberately persisted m \ 9iis perjury. He was sentenced to six months' imprisonment. In the . case- of 'Hans Shaw, -his Honor thought that he had to some extent been prejudiced by •{the fact that his brdther had been tried at the same sitting for the same crime. His Honor didn't wish to suggest that he had personally any doubt m Ms own. mind as to the giril-t of both brothers, hut it was better that a person guilty of a crime should escape unsentenced than, jthat there should he ever a suspicion jthat he had been Sentenced without that 1 lull and free trial to which, he was entitled by law. Hans was ordered to come up for sentence when called upon, the bonds being fixed at a personal surety of (£SO, and another of t*so.