A TENSE MOMENT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16585, 18 November 1921, Page 7

A TENSE MOMENT.

JUDGE AND COUNSEL,

There was a tense moment at tho Supreme Court this morning, provided bv Mr C. S. Thomas and Mr Justice Adams. In having evidence recorded, counsel frequently repeated the replies of witnesses in a form for the Judge’s associate, who types the evidence. This was bein" done by Mr Thomas during his examination of Dr A. B. Pearson in the manslaughter case against Alfred Denton, for whom Mr Thomas was appearing. $ A question arose as t-o whether, in repeating an answer by witness Tor the associate. Mr Thomas had rendered the answer correctly. “ I desire that in future, when you put questions to a witness and repeat them for record." said his Honor, i! you will correctly put them—” Mr Thomas (indignantly): If your Honor pleases ! Ilis Honor.- I do not wish to discuss it. I merely require you to do that in future. Later in the case Mr Thomas asked his Honor if he could put to the witness, Niven, a question as to whether he knew that all the other people in the car at the time of the accident under notice had disagreed with witness in their evidence at tlie inquest as to certain occurrences related bj" witness. Mr A. T. Donnelly, Crown Prosecutor, objected to the question. He said that unless the people referred to were to be called at the present hearing it would be improper to bring before the jury a reference to their more or less incoherent accounts. His Honor said that Mr Thomas’s question was inadmissible. “ "VVhat you are asking,” said Mr Donnelly. “ is to make these questions witnesses for the accused without the opportunity of cross-examination. ‘ £ The further those witnesses are away from this case the better I like them,” said Mr Thomas. Mr Donnelly: That is an admission to make ! That shows how crossly improper the question is.