STRATFORD POLICE COURT.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 8833, 17 July 1890, Page 2

STRATFORD POLICE COURT.

Wednesday, July 16.— Before C.C. Kettle, - Esq., R.M.. LATE PERJURY CASE. 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. Mr Skerrett spoke at length, and Mr Standish made a few remarks. His Worship then said: I have carefully considered the evidence for the prosecution and defence, and I have listened to the able address of the learned -counsel for the accused. In a case of this kind — a charge of perjury — (lie law very properly requires that the charge should be proved by the evidence of at least two witnesses, or by one witness and some corroborating document or circumstance in addition. It is difficult to define the degree of corroboration required, but there must be corroboration. I have considerable doubt as to whether the evidence relied upon by the prosecution as corroborating the evidence of Mr Okey is sufficient. This, however, is a question which should, in my opinion, be decided by the Supreme Court, and not by this Court. On a preliminary investigation such as thiß it is not necessary that the evidence should convince me of the guilt or innocence of the accused ; nor am I called upon to decide whether the accused is guilty or innocent of the crime with which he is charged. I therefore refrain from expressing any opinion on that point. What I have to be satisfied of is whether, looking at the whole of the evidence, there is enough to justify me in sending the accused for trial : that is to say, whether a prima facie case has been made cut against him by witnesses entitled to a reasonable degree of credit, or in other words whether there is any evidence upon which a jury might convict. Of course, if the evidence for the prosecution was contradictory in itself, or if it had been very seriously shaken on cross-examination and appeared to me quite unworthy of credit, or if the evidence on behalf of the accused very clearly and beyond doubt outweighed the evidence for the prosecution, it would under those circumstances be proper that I should dismiss the charge. I am not, however, prepared to say that the evidence given by Mr Okoy and the other witnesses for the prosecution is unworthy of credit, nor am I prepared to say that the evidence for the defence outweighs that of the prosecution. Of course, if the evidence for the defence was consistent with the evidence for the prosecution, .and* clearly disproved the guilt of the accused, it would be my duty to dismiss the information; but the evidence for the defence is inconsistent with and contradicted by the evidence given by the witnesses fo/ the prosecution. I therefore think that a pr m% facie case has been made out against the accused, and that the case must go before a jury. The accused is committed to take his trial at the next sitting of tho Supreme Court, at New Plymouth. Bail was allowed accused in two sureties of £50. The Court rose.

Seldom do those' engaged in the work of marrying indulge in a pun during the ceremony, however much they may be tempted by the names of the happy couple, but a Salt Lake Justice of the Peace could not lose an opportunity recently afforded him. In a- couple presenting themselves, the name of the bridegroom was John Pill. When the Justice reached that part of the ceremony where the bride agrees to take the groom for better or worse, instead of the usual formula, he Baid :'• Clara , do you take this Pill ?" to which the bride was hoard to respond, 1 "Yes," almost inaudibly.

IS DEAFNESS INCURABLE ? J. H. NICHOLSON, of 175 Williaru-street, Melbourne, has proved otherwise by making a complete cure of DEAFNESS AND NOISES IN THE HEAD OF OVER 40; YEARS' BTANDING by a simple remedy and without the use of any " clap trap " so j called eleotro-inedication treatment. A 1 full deeoription of this remedy, whiah has cured thousands of other canes of long ita&dißft will U seat TOE oa^pUgAtioa. j