CHARGE OF DUMMYISM.

Otago Witness, Issue 1935, 26 March 1891, Page 13

CHARGE OF DUMMYISM.

Wellington, Maroh 20. At the Magistrate's Court this morning Cole~ man Phillips, of Dry River station, Wairarapa, was charged on two informations with inciting Rose Joseph, Jenny Samuels, Henchen Samuels, Rachael Joseph, E. E. Samuels, J. R. Mills, and B. C. Mills to commit a breach of " The Land Act 1885" by obtaining land disposed of by deferred payment not exclusively for their own use, and with inciting such persons to declare something which wbb false— to wit, that they were purchasing the piece of land referred to in * the declaration solely for their own use and. benefit, for the purposes of cultivation, and not directly or indirectly for the use and benefit of any other person. Messrs Gully and Jellicoe appeared for the Minister of Lands, Mr Travera defending.

Evidence was given on behalf of the prosecution by Rachael Joseph, Rose Joseph, Jane Samuels, Henchen Samuels, and E. K. Samuels, who stated that they signed a certain application for land in the Wairarapa diatriot at the request of Mr Samuel, private secretary to Mr Jacob Joseph. They did not examine the contents of .the document before affixing their signatures, and they were not aware of the responsibility attaching to them. These witnesses refused to answer certain questions with reference to signing the applications, on the ground that in doing so they might criminate themselves ; bat the magistrate ruled that the witnesses most answer, and the witnesses submitted to his ruling, and forthwith gave replies to. all the questions put to them. A clerk in the Colonial Bank, Wellington, proved that the firm of Joseph and Phillips had an account at that bank, and produced certain cheques, made out by defendant in favour of the receivers of land revenue at Wellington. The case was adjourned to Tuesday next.