ALLEGED PERSONATION AT the AUCKLAND ELECTION.

Thames Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 8120, 13 August 1895, Page 2

ALLEGED PERSONATION AT the AUCKLAND ELECTION.

THE DEFENDANT FINED.

Auckland, Last night.

At the Police Court to-day a case of personation alleged to have occurred at the recent Thompson-Monk election contest, came before Mr H. W. Northcrof t, S.M.

The defendant, James Corley, junr. (a young man), was charged that he did, on 24th July, at Auckland, at the election of a member of the House of Representatives for the electoral district of City of Auckland, wilfully and knowingly make a false answer to a question put to him by the Returning Officer. Mr Cotter, on behalf of defendant, pleaded guilty to the charge. Mr McAlister said that defendant had been questioned and warned by the Returning Officer when he went to vote. He persisted in voting in the name of a different person, though warned of the consequences. It was a serious offence, and he hoped His Worship would not deal witk the matter lightly. • Mr Cotter said although defendant had voted in the name of James Corley, yet in reality it was his own name. The j .name on th« roll was James Coi'ley,

baker, and defendant's own name was Jas. Corley, and his occupation was that of a baker. No word senior or junior appeared on the roll. He asked that a nominal penalty be inflicted, as it was not a case whore defendant represented himself under another name.

Mr Northcroft inflicted a fine of £10 and costs. The costs amounted to £4 7s. The majority of the witnesses summoned did not claim their expenses A second charge against defendant that he did apply for a voting paper in the name of James Covley, the elder, then on the roll of the electoral district of the City of Auckland, was withdrawn. Mr McAlister said that the fine impo«ed in the first case would meet the ends of justice.