MASON'S MISTAKE

NZ Truth, Issue 860, 13 May 1922, Page 6

MASON'S MISTAKE

.— — * v A Lower Huttite Charged With Perjury Sequel to "Recent Court Proceedings. Although we hate to say it,' it is nevertheless a fact that many otherwise estimable citizens never . really begin to tell real lies m this world until they are placed on their oath m a court of law. So notorious has this "failing" become that judges, magistrates c.nd counsel do not, of necessity, take all that is said from the witntssstand as "gospel," but sharply scrutinise' witnesses on oath, to see If their demeanor is that of an HONEST-TO-GOODNESS . TRUTHTELLER. Despite all this, perjury charges, for many reasons, are amongst the most infrequent on the calendar. » One such, however, was heard before Magistrate Hunt at the Wellington Magistrate's Court after "Truth" went to press last week, when Frank Norman Mason, grocer, of the Lower Hutt, was charged. It was alleged that Mason, during the hearing of a charge of stone-throwing heard- against him at Lower Hutt on March 3, had falsely sworn that he left the Hutt at 7.30 o'clock on the night of February 4, m company with two friends, one of whom was Edgar Collett, garage proprietor, of Glsborne. Chief Detective Kemp prosecuted, and accused was represented by Lawyer W. E. Leicester. Formal evidence was given by the Clerk of the Court, Lower Hutt, show- " ing that Mason had been CHARGED WITH THROWING STONES. at his father-in-law's domiciliary edifice, on March 1. Mason was sworn and gave evidence on his own behalf. Magistrate Hunt, who presided, convicted Mason and fined him £3 and £1 11s costs. Constable R. Holmes, who pounds the pavements at Lower Hutt, deposed that Mason,'-- defended by Lawyer Leicester, had pleaded- not guilty to the charge of stone-throwing. The Irish confetti was alleged to have descended on the estimable roof of his most venerable dad-in-laws dwelling on Saturday, February 4. Two days later witness saw accused, who denied- throwing stones between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. on the date m question. Mason said • he was at Wainui-o-mata at that time, having- made the trip m a motor-car belonging to certain friends whose names he said he was not prepared to divulge until the Court proceedings were heard. The police wanted Mason to supply the names of his pals, so

that if it was found he was speaking the truth there would be no necessity to trouble the Court with the case. Mason still 'preferred to keep mum, however. Mason kept to this story when the case was heard- and, crossexamined- under oath, said that one of his motor-car friends was Edgar Collett, a garage proprietor of Gisborne. Mason told the Court that he had been to the house of one Appleby at Wainui, and finding them not at home, Collett and he had sat by the cowshed and had a smoke and had then returned home. Witness said he interviewed- accused at a later date, m the -presence of Detective Sergeant Andrews, and accused then said he regretted he HAD MADE A MISTAKE when he said he was at Wainui on February 4. Mr. Leicester: Mason has never admitted he was guilty of throwing stones? — No. ■, ' Edgar Arnold Collett, garage proprietor, of Gisbornet said accused was his cousin. He was, not m Mason's company on February 4, not' being able to be m more than one .place at a time. Witness was m Gisborne on that date. He left the Poverty Bay metropolis on February 10, arrived m Wellington the following day, and the same night he and Mason and another went to Wainui-o-mata. He did not know on this date (February 11) that Mason was m trouble. To Mr. Leicester, witness said that Mason appeared to have been affected by some worry or trouble and was a different man to what he used to be. Detective Sergeant Andrews said he ,won a written statement from Mason, m which accused expressed sorrow for' what he had said at the trial. Mason, pleading not guilty, was committed to the Supreme Court for trial, bail being fixed- at £250 with one surety of a; like amount.