Supreme Court.

Southland Times, Issue 13288, 15 August 1895, Page 2

Supreme Court.

(By Telegraph.) Christchurch, Aug. 14 At the Supreme Court to-day George James Bruce was charged with perjury in the evidence given by him before the Licensing Committee at the hearing of an application for a renewal of the license of Coker’s Hotel, by swearing that from a window of his room in Manchester street he could see the entrance to the hotel bar in George street, and that he saw men and women come tumbling out of the bar. The gallery was packed and a few ladies wellknown in connection with the prohibition njovement occupied seats in the front row, A number of ministeig and prohibition leaders were amongst those present. Mr Russell defended the accused, who pleaded “not guilty. ’’ Both his counsel and Mr Stringer, who coniucted the case for the Crown, freely exercised their powers of selection when the jury was chosen, Mr Russell exhausting his power of challenging by objectting to twelve of those whose names were drawn, while seven others were ordered to stand aside by the Crown. The evidence for the prosecution was the same as that given in the lower court. For the defence it was stated that the alleged perjury had arisen through the manner in which, at the licensing committee, a question had been put to the accused. Counsel, it was sworn, first asked Bruce how far he could see down George street, and he, it was stated, replied that he could see the upper part. Counsel then remarked, paraphrasing the answer, “ exactly as far as the bar,” and almost in the same breath asked “Do you know Coker’s hotel.” Bruce, thinking he was replying to the latter question, said “Yus.” The jury, after a retirement of 50 minutes, found the accused not guilty.

Wellington, Aug. 14. Willliam Smith pleaded guilty to using false pretences and was sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment. Percy Plank was convicted of receiving stolen property and sentence was deferred.