BREEZE IN COURT.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 793, 25 August 1916, Page 10

BREEZE IN COURT.

A HOSTILE WITNESS. IMPUTES POLICE THREATENING. The rather startling remark that if lis " gave evidence lie would probably be - charged with perjury was made by j l Charles Willetts, a bricklayer, at thtvi. I Magistrate's Court to-day, in a case of i , | assault and robbery preferred against. i two voung men. | Willetts was being pressed by Chief--1 Detective Herbert to give his version "lot an incident described by two pre- , i vious witnesses, who had stated that > Willetts was with tlietn at the time. | "I don't remember anything," said i Willetts, after some questioning. j Herbert: This man I • is a hostile witness, your Worship. j '» Mr Cassidy (who appeared for one of ; the accused)': Perhaps witness's reason i for not, speaking is that Detective Ward S threatened him before the hearing? I The Magistrate (Mr T. A. B. Bailey, I S.M.), to witness: Why do you not wish . to give evidence'? "" Witness: I will be charged with per- " | jury if T do. ; ' The Magistrate: That's iionsen.se. - You have nothing to fear if you speak - the truth, although I'm afraid there are many people in this Court who do not always tell the truth. The witness was understood to mutter I that he was under the influence of > liquor at the time of the incident, and , could not speak with any certainty. The Magistrate: You were evidently very drunk, or you have a motive in not speaking. Mr Cassidy (to witness): What - threats did Detective Ward hotd out - against you? { 'Witness: I can't exactly remember. Mr Cassidy proceeded to further question the witness as to statements made I by Detective Ward, when Chief-Detee-hive Herbert interrupted "This seems a new rule, when oppos- • ing counsel can interfere with my vvit- - ness. The Magistrate: You mustn't inter- , rupt, Mr Cassidy. Mr Cassidy (to the Chief -Detective): I've been in this Court 20 years, and I'm not going to be told my business by you. Mr Bailey: Look here, Mr Cassidy, [ I won't have this running comment - from you. Mr Cassidy (hotly): I'm going to reply to his comment (the Chief-Detec-tive's). There will probably be a scur- • rilous report in the newspapers after , this, and I don't want to go before the , public as a fool. The Magistrate: That will do, Mr Cassidy. The witness appears either ! to be trying to got out of giving evi- ' dence, or lying. ; Mr Cassidy: Isn't that statement . rather prejudicing the case against ae- ■ eused ? Further argument ensued between Mr Cassidy and the Chief-Detective, which > was only partly audible at the Press I table. The witness was ordered to stand i down. i Detective Ward, who was next called, said he wished to make an explanation of the statement made by Willetts. This ' man was with Foster and Wonnacott • (two previous witnesses) at the time the alleged robbery was committed. Foster and Wonnacott then wanted to go for the assistance of the police, but Willetts attempted to stop them. Wit- ■ ness subsequently saw Willetts, who de- . nied knowing anything about the affair, [ /and said he did not even know Foster , jot Wonnacott. Witness then said, . '' Well, I am going to subpoena you, anyway, and if you persist in the latter ' statement you probably will find yourself up on a perjury charge." I Subsequently, when dealing with the ,

question of witness's expenses, the t Magistrate made an order that no ex- i penses were to be paid to Willetts. ( i <