PERSONATION ALLEGED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 107, 7 May 1936, Page 9

PERSONATION ALLEGED

ELECTORAL ACT CASE CHARGE AT AUCKLAND. [ Per Press Association. ] AUCKLAND, May 5. An offence of personation under the Electoral Act 1927 was alleged to have been committed on the day of the general election last year by James Francis Brady, second-hand dealer, who appeared for trial in the Supreme Court. It was alleged by the Crown that accused voted in the morning at St. Benedict’s Hall and then went to a booth at the Town Hall and applied for a second set of voting papers. The case came before Mr. Justice Callan, Mr. R. Meredith appearing for the Crown and Mr. Elwarth for accused, who pleaded not guilty. In his opening address to the jury Mr. Meredith said the Crown had to prove that accused had voted on one occasion and then had gone along to another booth and made application for voting papers. It was not necessary for the Crown to prove that he had voted a second time. If the jury was satisfied that accused had applied for a second set of voting papers they were entitled to find him guilty. Erwin Sharman Molony, returning , officer for Auckland Central, said that I from a scrutiny of the rolls after the • election it appeared that accused had ' voted twice as his name was struck out • on the rolls from the Town Hall booths : and St. Benedict’s Hall booths. Wit- ; ness produced ballotpapers and oth«’r ; material relating to the election. The < evidence of several officials engaged in i election work was heard. ; The case was adjourned until to-mor- • row,