STRATFORD POLICE COURT. THIS DAY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 8830, 14 July 1890, Page 2

STRATFORD POLICE COURT. THIS DAY.

Monday, July 14.— Before 0. C. Kettle, Esq., R.M., ALLEGED PERJURY. John GHHespie, police constable stationed at Manaia, was charged with having committed perjury in his evidence in a civil action, — H. Okey y. P. Fitzpatrick, claim for damages for malicious prosecution. — In this case Gillespie gave •vidence for the defendant, Fitzpatrick, who had laid a charge of cattle stealing against Okey, and in the course of his evidence he said he had a second conversation with Okey about the cattle on the verandah of the Stratford Hotel, before the information for cattle stealing •was laid. Okey denied this second conversation in his evidence in the civil action, and Judge Conolly in his judgment accused the constable of concocting the second conversation, and committing perjury. Out of this the present prosecution for perjury arose. Mr Standish prosecuted for the Crown, and Mr Skerrett, ot Wellington, appeared for the defendant. There was a great crowd, the Town Hall being full. Much interest is manifested in the case. A. H. Holmes, S. H. James, and Constable Leahy gave formal, evidence. R. A. Morton and R. G-. Pardy gave evidence from their notes taken in the Supreme Court as to what was said by Gillespie about the second alleged conversation with Okey. ] The cross-examination of R. Gr. Pardy was put back till after Okey giveß hiß evidence. . '