ALLEGED PERJURY

Otago Witness, Issue 3292, 18 April 1917, Page 37

ALLEGED PERJURY

. 1 <*, CHAKGES AGAINST NATIVES. HAMILTON, April 12. The adjourned session of the Supreme Court was reopened this morning, before Mr Justice Hosking, when the hearing of the perjury charges against Rua's followers was continued. Tioko Hakaipare was charged with committing perjury by swearing that Constable Skinner fired the first shot at Maungapohatu, and that" he fired a shot from a revolver point-blank at Rua. The evidence was practically the same as that already adduced. At 2.30 p.m.' the foreman of the jury intimated to his Honor that the jury wished to express its disapproval of irrelevant questions, and to stato that it was heartily sick of listening to matters not in issue. Senior Sergeant Cassells was in the box for five hours and a-half, and some lively interchanges took place between witness and Mr Latndon. April 13. During tho hearing of the perjury charges in the Supreme Court Constable Skinner described the allegation. that he had fired the first shot at Rua's pa, and that he fired the shot point blank at Rua, as a diabolical conspiracy. During cross-examination, W. Cobbledick (Government ranger at Rotoi'ua) made an emphatic statement to tho effect that the Native Paul King, since deceased, fired tho first shot at Rua's pa on April 2. 1916, and that he (witness) had proved it to his own satisfaction. HAMILTON, April 16. The hearing of the charge of perjury against Tioki Hapu Hakaipere in connection with tho Rua trial in Auckland, was continued in the Supreme Court to-day before Mr Justice Hosking. Mr Mays represented the Crown, and Mr Lundon appeared for the prisoner. J. Cullen (ex-Commissioner of Police) said the story put up by the Natives about the first shot was a pure, deliberate concoction. After some arguing on the question of admissions, it was agreed that the following admissions by the Crown be accepted:— The Ci'own makes no suggestion that either David Lundon (solicitor) or Carter (surveyor), of Rotorua, arranged the story told by the accused and other Natives about the first shot, and no suggestion is made in this case that Lundon constructed the story. The case for the defence was opened this afternoon.