ABSENT-MINDED, HE VOTED TWICE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18642, 20 December 1928, Page 9

ABSENT-MINDED, HE VOTED TWICE.

CHARGE AGAINST OLD MAN IS DISMISSED. A man of seventy-eight years of Age appeared at the Magistrate’s Cotart today, charged with committing the offence of personation, in that, having voted once at an election, he applied again for a voting paper in his own name. “I am satisfied that there wu no criminal intent in this case,” said Mr E. D. Mosley, S.M., in dismissing the charge. William Spiers, of Queen- Street. Sydenham, was the defendant, and he was represented by Mr M’Lachlan. Sub-Inspector Fitzpatrick said thgt it was alleged that defendant voted twice. Defendant, who was seventyeight years of age, voted at Sydenham polling booth. lie then wandered to another table, where a clerk asked him if he. wanted voting papers. These were supplied, and defendant voted again. Later in the day defendant, according to his statement to the police, began to think that he was supplied with too many papers. He therefore went back to the booth, arriving there just after it closed. Defendant also stated that he believed the second lot of papers was concerned with the licensing issue. Arthur Leslie, postmaster at High Street, said that he was returning officer for the Christchurch East electorate. There were nineteen cases of plural voting, and all but that of defendant proved to be poll clerks’ errors. Defendant voted twice at two contiguous booths, both in the Sydenham Football Club’s Hall in Lawson Street. Air M’Lachlan: Is the poll clerk Who invited defendant to vote present in Court ? Witness: No. Mr M’Lachlan stated that without the poll clerk it was difficult for him to set up his defence that defendant had not actually applied to vote the second time, but had been invited to do so. Detective Laugeson said that defendant s excuse of being absent-minded seemed to be an honest one. as he had difficulty in recalling anything. Mr M’Lachlan: lie doesn’t remember even for whom he voted. The Magistrate (smiling) : I hope he voted for the right one. Mr M’Lachlan: I cannot even put that up in his support. The Magistrate: I am satisfied that there was no criminal intent in this case. Of course, the police and the returning officer have done their duty m bringing the matter before the Court. This old man had not the slightest intention of committing a crime, for which the law provides a penalty of two years' hard labour. If he had any intention of committing a crime he would at least have gone to another booth. The case will be dismissed.”