PERJURY IN THE COURTS

Taranaki Daily News, 22 November 1930, Page 7

PERJURY IN THE COURTS

BRITISH JUSTICE SYSTEM WELL-KNOWN JUDGE CRITIC LOW STANDARD OF HONESTY, — I RELIABLE TEST REQUIRED By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright. London, Nov. 20. “Truth” was the subject of Mr. Jus, tice McCardle’s Maudsley lecture at the British Medical Association offices. He drew a remarkable picture of English courts and said perjury could never have been riper than to-day. It was regarded as a normal incident in a contested criminal trial. It 'had ceased to be a surprise and had become almost a matter of course. Those who were accused gave evidence not for t'he purpose of admitting, but of denying, the offences. He regretted to say that perjury had been encouraged and increased by the low standard of frankness and honesty widely and unhappily shown in many aspects of ' the party political system. Perjury was committed to a greater or lesser degree in most civil and ciiminal cases. Murderers must be self-possess-ed. He could recall few who did not give their testimony confidently and dispassionately and with adroitness of r.■ply, ingenuity in explanation and a singular ease of manner. Nothing could exceed the skill, self-confidence and audacious reliance on sex frequently displayed by an intelligent woman perjurer, who, furthermore, had an histrionic sense unpossessed by a male. If every offence were prosecuted the criminal courts of England would 'be engaged daily throughout the year. Psychologists. who could discover a reliable and practical method of testing veracity would be the greatest benefactors known'in the long history of hpmap justice. He. added that he did not-know of anyone wrongly convicted, though many guilty persons had escaped.