PERJURY CHARGE

Otago Witness, Issue 3595, 6 February 1923, Page 43

PERJURY CHARGE

PROCEEDINGS ADJOURNED. An unusual charge of committing perjury in evidence in the Magistrate's Court was commenced b~fore Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M., in the City Police Court on Friday morning. The charge was laid against George Long that on October 17, 1922, at the Magistrates Court. Dunedin, he asserted on oath that the cost price of certain houses in 1912 was £ISOO, knowing that such assertion was false and intending to deceive Mr E. C. Cutten, S.M., thereby committing the crime of perjury. Mr Hanlon appeared for th« accused, and Chief-detective Bishop proseThomas Brien, custodian of Government Buildings in High street, said that he was recently residing at 40a Bay View road in a house belonging to the accused. The accused lived at 33 Bay View road. Witness occupied the house in September, 1921, and the rent was 22s 6d a week. He discovered a week later that the previous tenant had been paying 2-3 s a week, and he applied to have the rent redlueed. About five weeks later it was reduced to 23s per week through Mr Browett, of the Labour Department. On December 17, 1922, accused applied through the court to have the rent increased. Mr Cutten, S.M., was on the bench, and witness, was eventually ordered to jiay 31s 6d a week. Accused gave evidienoe and said the houa© cost him £750 to build. The case of an adjoining house occupied by Mrs Breen was taken at the same time. Mr Callan appeared as solicitor for witness. • After hearing evidence, Mr Hanlon submitted that the ease must be. dismissed because not a scrap of evidence bad been brought forward to show that the accused had ni false statement. There was no evidence «« to the actual cost of the buildings. The Crown had got to show that the statement was false and that accused knew it was false. The Magistrate said he would hesitate to dismiss the charge on the present proceedings. After argument it was decided to adjourn the matter till Friday to see if the chief-detective could obtain the evidence of one of the builders concerned.