MISSING WITNESS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LI, Issue 16921, 30 December 1925, Page 7

MISSING WITNESS.

IS IT INTIMIDATION? '' TAKEN AWAY BY THREE MEN'' BRISBANE, Nov. 24. —That a Crown witness—the complainant —had been intimidated into staying away from the Police Court, after having been subpoenaed,, was the assertion made to-day by Sup-inspector Coman, when Thomas Hunter did not answer his name. Hunter was the complainant in a charge against Alexander John Wright, on remand, of. having stolen £2 10s from Hunter with actual violence while in company with others. When the defendant, was remanded last week, Hunter was subpoenaed to appear to-day, but failed to do so. "This morning," said Sup-inspector Coman, the police prosecutor, "three men waited on this particular witness, and took him away. I make this statement knowing it to bo true." "Business people in the vicinity of where this offence happened," ho added, "have gone out of their way to induce the complainant not to attend at court, by making certain promises to him.'' The C.P.M.: Have you any evidence against these people interfering with the "course of justice? Sub-inspector Coman,: No, I hajc not. The C.P.M.: Have you any way of getting it? Sub-inspector Coman: The police are making inquiries. I The C.P.M.: If there is any interference by the prisoner or his friends with a" Crown witness, I shall have something to say about it. Mr. M'Grath (for the defendant): I have no knowledge of any interference. The C.P.M.: Can you assure me that i your client has not. Mr. M'Grath: I can give you no assurance, i The defendant: I have not left my boarding-house for a week. The C.P.M.: It is not necessary for you to leave your boarding-house for your friends to get to work. To Sub-inspector Coman: Do you suggest that this man has been taken away, and is being cared for against : his will? Sub-inspector Coman: It may not he against his will. He may have a dread iof personal violence. He was told that; I his money was in a certain place, and that he could go and get it. | The C.P.M.: In the interests of jusI lice, it is my duty to remand, tho prisoner. ) To the defendant: I shall remand you until December 2, on the same bail. If you do not attend, 1 shall have you re-arrested. If I find any interference by your friends with a Crown witness! shall have them proi ceeded against.