Censured By The Judge

NZ Truth, 15 March 1924, Page 6

Censured By The Judge

CITY COUNCIL OFFICER AND THE "RE PAT" CASES. A witness ln the case of Harry Patrick Hodglns (who this week underwent, In Christchurch,. hiu third trial, removed from Wellington, on a charge of having stolen £2G from the Wellington, District Repatriation Board) came m for some severe comment from Mr. Justice Sim. [ Tho witness was Arthur Joseph Ames, assistant to the City Valuer at Wellington. Witness shared a bach m Thorndon with accused, and m wit- • ness's namo a loan of £50 was secured from the Repatriation Department to pay for bach furniture. Hodglns had charge of the ledger cardß at the Repatriation Board's office. When affairs were squared up it was found that tho loan m witness's name was £20 short. The question was whether Ames had paid Hodglns. Ames, In the box, admitted that he had said In tho lower Court that he had paid Hodglns £2 3s 4d a month, but, after disclosing the matter with tho others who occupied tho bach, he remembered that It waa 10s a month ho had paid. Hodglns used to collect 10s a week from tho four of them. When there wero three In the bach Hodglns collected a third of £2 from each, j His Honor: Havo you no regard for : tho truth at all? You nro a pretty • officer to occupy a responsible position m tho Wellington City Council when you come here and give evidence In this way. What wore the re- payments? Will you kindly speak the truth regardless ot any attempt to protect Hodgina? In bin subsequent summing up his Honor observed that Ames's story had j been obviously edited by Hodglns after the lower Court proceeding;?. Jt took the jury only 20 minutes to decide that Ilodglnn wuh not guilty By hia Honor's direction Arnoa wa* not allowed wltneaa'a expenses. --■■■■'■■■ IMfc - to'^--;---;v-