ELECTOR VOTES TWICE

Taranaki Daily News, 17 June 1933, Page 2

ELECTOR VOTES TWICE

LOCAL BODY POLLING. DRINKING BOUT PLEADED. Waihi, June 13. Charged with having voted twice at the municipal elections, Charles Henry Thomas, farmer, aged 26, appeared before Mr. H. D. M. Haszard and Mr. P. G. Brady, justices, in the Waihi Police Court to-day. E. C. Westbury, town clerk and returning officer, said that as a result of the scrutiny of the rolls he found that accused had voted twice, once at the main booth and once at the East End booth. This was indicated by his name having been struck out on the rolls used at these polling-places. In the course of an intei-view Thomas admitted having voted at the main booth. Questioned further, he said he would neither deny nor admit having voted at the East End booth, as he could not remember, as he had two or three drinks during the day. W. Lane, poll clerk at the main booth, said that accused voted about 11.30 a.m. H. Denby, poll clerk at the East End booth, said that accused received ballot papers about 6.30 p.m. Witness thought Thomas had had liquor, but he was not drunk. ’ Accused, in a statement, said he admitted voting at one booth, but he did not

remember voting at any other. He might have done so, but after recording ms vote he drank all the. afternoon and was hazy regarding his further activities until 9.30 that evening. Thomas, who pleaded guilty, was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence.