CHARGE OF PERJURY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3861, 13 March 1928, Page 13

CHARGE OF PERJURY.

DEATH OF IMPORTANT WITNESS. AUCKLAND, March 8. A charge of perjury against Ernest Gilbert, a blacksmith, collapsed in the Police Court when it was announced that a witness, whose absence had resulted in an adjournment at a previous hearing on February 23, died in Auckland Hospital last Monday. The case arose out of the acquittal of Gilbert in February, 1926, on a charge of negligently driving a motor car at Onehunga. A collision occurred with a cyclist on the Mangere bridge, and when prosecuted Gilbert declared that he and another man were the only occupants of the car. The police had since alleged that there were two women, and at the opening of the case a fortnight ago a woman stated that she was a The case was adjourned by Mr F. K. Hunt, S.M., when it was said that the other woman was in hospital. At the resumption the police intimated that the witness had died on Monday. Mr Goldstine, counsel for the accused, asked for the dismissal of the case on the gfround that a prima facie case had not been made out. The Magistrate concurred in this course.