PECULIAR CASE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19442, 30 October 1925, Page 11

PECULIAR CASE

. WOMAN’S FALSE STATEMENTS . [Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, Oct, 29. The session of the Supreme Court was occupied with hearing a case in which Christine Audrey Helen Mounsell, a married, middle-aged woman, pleaded not guilty to a charge of having made a false statement in regard to the posting of a letter said to contain £25 in money, whereas it was alleged by the prosecution that the leter, containing notes, had not been posted. Mr P. Macasscy, on behalf of the prosecution, submitted that the charge was of a serious nature, in the fact that there was a great possibilty of reflection being east upon the Postal authorities, Mr Tustin, for the defence, submitted that the notes had been accidentally mislaid and that the accused had entertained not the slightest intention of defrauding the Postal authorities. Accused honestly believed the money had been placed in the envelope and actually forwarded to the person to whom it was due. Mrs Maunsell had certainly told a number of falsehoods, submitted counsel, but solely for tho reason of saving a police prosecution. No reason could be given for such statements, except that the accused had hoped to clear the matter up. “This is a sad, and, in many circumstances, most peculiar case,” said the Chief Justice, in summing up tho evidence. “This woman has told lie aft'-r lie. This case undoubtedly bears out the old adage that if you tell one lie you must tell ten moro in support of the first lie.”

The jury, after a retirement of threequarters’ of an hour, returned a verdict of guilty, with a strong recommendation to mercy.

His Honour, taking into consideration the previous good character borne by tho accused, ordered her to come up for sentence when called upon.