PERJURY CHARGE

Stratford Evening Post, Volume II, Issue 240, 11 May 1933, Page 5

PERJURY CHARGE

ARSON CASE SEQUEL HAIRDRESSER TO BE TRIED FRANKTC.W PROSECUTION Press Association.— Copvright. Hamilton, May 10. As a sequel to the conviction on a charge of arson of Ira George Land, brush merchant, of Frankton, last November, Samuel Hoskins, aged 21, hairdresser, of Otorohanga, was charged in the Police Court today with committing perjury. It was alleged that being a witness at Land's trial Hoskins did falsely assert as part of his evidence on oath as a matter of fact that h'3 had received five motor spirit tins from Land on the aSturday before te fire, knowing such assertion to be false, and intended to mislead the Court. Mr. J. F. Strang represented accused. Evidence concerning the fire at Forbes' billiard saloon, Frankton, on the evening of Suday, August 21, was give by Angus Craig, superintendent of the Hamilton Fire Brigade, also by David Joseph Mathieson and Victor Forster, firemen. They stated that large quantities of benzine were used to ignite the building. Jas. Neave, brushmaker, formerly employed by Land, said he bought five motor spirit tins and handed them to Land, acting on his instructions. Albert George Forbes, owner of the burned premises, said the accused was formerly employed by him. On the Saturday before the fire he purchased a five-gallon keg of beer as a birthday present for accused. A similar keg, smelling of benzine, was found on the burned premises. Ivan McAnally, reporter, of Auckland, produced notes tkken during the trial, in which accused Hoskins said he received the tins from Land. When asked by the Crown Prosecutor how he explained his statement to the police that he never handled any new tins, accused said he must have ovei--looked the matter. Detective White said that at a second interview with the police Hoskins stated that Land gave him four tins ,but later he admitted that he received the tins. Asked whether Land urged him to tell lies about the tins, accused never denied nor affirmed it. The accused pleaded not guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial.