THE RUA TRIAL.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 14048, 19 July 1916, Page 5

THE RUA TRIAL.

NOW TN THE 35th. DAY. REBUTTING EVIDENCE CALLED. (Special to the Herald.) AUCKLAND, tins day. : Another phase of the trial of' Rua was entered upon yesterday morning, '. when the Crown prosecutor" called rebutting evidence m reply to develop- ; ments which occurred m Mr. Limdon's • cross examination. The trial has been i m progress 35 days, and it will probably last another week. Several police witnesses are to be called, also the niagistrate (Mr. R. W. Dyer) who imposed ' sentence upon the prisoner. Most of the ' day was taken up with the evidence of ' Albert Oliphant Stewart, licensed inter- : pireter of Whakatane, formerly of Gisborne, as to having translated summonses against Rua on May 1, 1915, and on May 18, 1915. Witness acted as interpreter before Mr. Dyer, S.M., for the hearing of charges against Rua. The cases embraced several witnesses, and extended over two days. On an order to come up for sentence M-hen called upon (aii offence of 1911) Rua was sentenced to three months' imprisonment. On the other .five charges he was convicted, and ordered to come up when called upon. Witness fully interpreted the magistrate's statements. Before pronouncing sentence Mr. Dyer gave prisoner a lengthy lecture, and witness made a full interpretation. ' Mr. Lundon : Is this rebutting evidence Mr. Tole: Of course it is. Accused has denied that he was given to understand the nature of the sentence. His Honor ruled that the evidence \r'as admissible. The 'presumption was that the magistrate would do his. duty and the Crown had -riot anticipated the the suggestion which had been made to the contrary. . Mr. Lundon protested that no sucli suggestion had been made. His Honor (firmly) : What else has been suggested? The whole .thing was an attack from beginning to end. Mr. Lundon: No, sir. Mr. Tole : Yes, your Honor. T may aA well say at once that I am going to call the magistrate. Tliere will be no doubt about it. 'Witness, continuing, said that the 'magistrate made it clear to Rua that if he came before the Court again he would be severely dealt Avith. Rua expressed his -willingness to pay a fine of £200. Tlie magistrate said he could not do .that, as he had already passed sentence. Witness was quite satisfied that Rua understood the significance of the magistrate's warning. x ' Mr. Lundon closely cross-questioned witness wi.th reference to entries m his note-book, .counsel contending that entries purporting to have been made on 'same day (May 3, 1905) were m different ink/ '''''•' •-.",■-'. Witness : I can't help tiiat, sir. Those entries were honestly made m the same day; I have three ink wells oh my idesk, ahd use the same pen so that it is possible for inks to (*et mixed. Mr. Lundon': But each of the three entries on May 3 is m different ink and interlined. How do you ' account for that? Witness :, l. can't help it if it is a trick of the ink. Mr. Lundon : A trick of tlie ink ! "I should say trick of the educated native. 'His Honor: Yoii are not entitled to make 'containing such' inputa- • tibhs. You, may cross-examine, but it , is quite ni) fair to go further.