WITNESSES APPROACHED

Thames Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 19622, 1 February 1936, Page 3

WITNESSES APPROACHED

COUNSEL’S ALLEGATION

Charge Against Inspector.

INCIDENT ON BEACH

UNUSUAL GISBORNE CASE. (By Telegrapn. —Press Association). GISBORNE, Feb. 1. There Avas an unexpected development in the Police Court yesterday when the case Avas called in Avhieh an inspector of police, Mr. Henry Martin, was proceeded against under a private information charging him with obscene exposure on Waikanuc Beach.

Counsel for the informant, Mr. L. T. Burmuid, alleged that since the case Avas first called there had been interference on the part of the Police Department with Avitnesses for the prosecution. Of seven witnesses, four had actually been approached hv Inspector Lopdell, who avus relieving Inspector Martin. His client felt that the case had taken a turn Avhieh compelled her Avithdrawal. Counsel for Inspector Martin, Mr. Wauchop, said that nothing in the whole case Avas more extraordinary than the procedure of the informant. The allegations, as far as he understood them, Avere that Mr. Martin, after bathing at 6.30 in the morning, had covered himself with a dressing goAvn and removed his bathing costume. It Avas alleged that either by aeeide'nt or design the goAvn came open and Mr. Martin exposed himself. On that evidence, Mr. Wauchop submitted, not a solicitor in town would have taken the responsibility of laying the information. At the time the information Avas laid, added Mr. Wauchop, lavo constables Avere subject to a very serious charge, Avhieh Avas adjourned pending the hearing of the present case. It AA T as an astonishing fact that all the Avintesses, so far as he could learn, Avere seen by one or other of those tAvo constables.

The magistrate, Mr. E. L. Walton, adjourned the case till February 10, stating that in the meantime he Avonld communicate Avith the Justice Department.