STRATFORD POLICE COURT.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 8832, 16 July 1890, Page 2

STRATFORD POLICE COURT.

Tuesday, July 15. — Before C. C. Kettle, Esq., R.M. ALLEGED PERJURY.

John Gillespie, police constable stationed at Manaia, was charged with having committed perjury in his evidence in a civil action, — H. Okey v. P. Fitzpatrick, claim for damages for malicious prosecution.

{Continued from yesterday.} James Dobson, settler near Stratford, stated that he saw Gillespie and another man talking on the verandah of Coldwell's hotel on the first Monday after witness came to Stratford. Witness came to Stratford on Tuesday, January 21, and it was the Monday after — January 27. Bullock was with witness at the time. He could not tell who the man was that Gillespie was speaking to. He could not oiy if it was the man (Mehaffy) who was standing up in Court. Robert Bullock, recalled, said it was not Mehaffy he saw Gillespie talking to, but the man he understood was Okey.

Edward Brannigan, a youth living near Stratford, stated that he was riding past Coldwell's hotel on the day before Mr Newton King's sale day in Stratford. He saw Gillespie and Okey talking on the verandah, and he saw Gillespie leave and talk to a man named Rodgers, who was coming towards the hotel on horseback. He saw Gillespie the same day afterwards near the post office, and Gillespie told him that he had been talking to Okey that day who now said that the cattle sold to Manson had been branded all over. Witness took an interest in the case because he found the first missing cattle of Fitzpatrick. He looked for the cattle because there was a reward offered. He saw two other men sitting on the verandah of the h tel when he passed. Henry Mehaffy, called b> the Magistrate, stated that he might have had conversations with Gillespio on or near the verandah of the hotel ; in fact he always spoke to Gillespie when he saw him in the town of Stratford. He remembered Okey coming to his place on January 28, in the morning. He did not see Okey in Stratford on January 27. John Gillospie, the accused in the case, then gave evidence. He stated that he was certain it was on Monday, January 27, that he had the conversation with ,Okey on the verandah of Coldwell's Hotel. He knew that as he looked up the duty record book, and kne\v that it was the day before Sergt. Bissett first came to tho Police Station at Normanby to see about distraining for non payment of Maori dog tax. That would be January 28, when he told Bissett about the conversation, and Bissett remarked that the conversation was not of much importance, as it was merely a second denial. He concurred in Binsett's view about the conversation, and on that account he did n,t place any importance in the conversation. This witness was cross-examined at great length, on the Court resuming *at 7,30 o'clock in the evening, by Mr Standish. After Mr Standish, His Worship also put a great many questions to witness as to how he arrived at the fact that it was January 27 on which he spoke to Okey on Coldwell's verandah. Witness adhered to his statement that it was Monday, January 27, and gave his evidence at great length. Henry Okey, re-called, produced a diary in which there was an entry which showed that he was at Omata on January 27, buying sheep from Mr Jury, of that place. He bought the sheep as mentioned in his pocketbook at 6s 3d. He paid toll that day as he went to Jury's and coming back. Ho saw two of W. Bayly's drovers on the road coming back, but he could not give their names. He had a conversation with them on the subject of tolls. He returned home with tho sheep, and on the morning of January. 28 he rode to Stratford and went to Mehaffy's place. He was not in Stratford on January 27. The conversation he l.ad with Gillespie must have been on January 29, and after the information was laid. By Mr Skerrett : He did not attribute personal spite to Gillespie in laying the information. He considered that Gillespie must be oat in his dates. Mr Skerrett waived the right to crossexamine R. Pardy This was the evidence. The Court adjourned at midnight, till 10.30 o'clock on Wednesday, when the comments of counsel would be heard, and His Worship give his decision on the evidence beforeTiim.