BREACH OF THE REGISTRATION OF ELECTORS ACT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1552, 14 July 1885, Page 3

BREACH OF THE REGISTRATION OF ELECTORS ACT.

At the Resident Magistrate Court this afternoon,, before Mr H. C. S. Baddeley, R.M., John Bryson was charged with a breach of the Registration of Electors Act 1879, in having made a false declaration to the Registrar for the electoral district of Wakanni to the effect that he had resided within the said electoral district for the six months preceding the date of the said declaration, whereas he had not soresided. Mr Parnell appeared to prosecute, and Mr Wilding appeared for the defendant In opening the case Mr Purnell said he proposed to call evidence to show that the defendant bad committed a flagrant breach of the Act, and would ask the Bench to inflict the full penalty allowed by the law—l-20 ... Mr Wilding took a preliminary objection to the information, contending that it disclosed no offence, and did not set out before whom the declaration was made. Mr Parnell asked le*ve to amend the information. Leave was granted, Mr Wilding formally objecting. Joseph Ward. Registrar of Electors for Wakanui, produced the Electoral Roll for the district of Wakanni. (Mr Wilding objected to the Roll being put in until proof of it having been gazetted was tendered, and Mr Ward left the box to obtain necessary documents ) George Jameson, Returning Officer for the electoral district of Wakanni, producad the Roll employed by him at the recent election for Wakanui. He believed the accused bad voted at that election. Joseph Ward, recalled, produced his warrant of appointment aa Returning Officer for the electoral district of Wakanui. He also produced the Electoral Roll for the district. Accused had made a claim to have his name placed upon the roll. The claim bore the signature of Alexander Protheroe as attesting witness. Protheroe was an elector of the district. Witness received the claim on Jane 10 or 11. To Mr Parnell : Witness had made no enquiries in respect to the claimant before .placing his name on the roll Witness was satisfied by his knowledge of Protheroe’s character.

Alexander Protheroe, farmer of Wakanui, said his name was on the Electoral Foil for Wakanui. . Hia signature was attached to Bryson’s claim to vote. _ The claim was filled up by Ivt ss. Witness had accompanied Ivess to J. Brown’s farm on June 10. Ivess and witness went into a but on Brown’s farm. Brown had said he had two men entitled to be on the roll; claims to vote were filled up, and Bryson and another man signed them. No question was asked as to how long Bry son had been in the district, Ivess and witness were in a Hurry, the former baving to attend a meeting the same evening. Witness did not believe that Bryson had read the claim. Ivess took possession of the claim.—David Thomas said he was scrutineer at the late Wakanui election. The accused had voted at that election.

Thomas Quill said he had known the accused for about 20 yean. _ He was a single man, and as far as witness knew, had no settled place of abode. Accused name to witness’s hotel on February 20, and said be bad just arrived from Geraldine. A week later the accused went to. work at Methven. Witness could not say how long he was there. The accused had said be regarded j witness’s house as his home. Accused said that after he had signed the claim he heard he was not entitled to vote, and expected to be challenged. Accused said he had seen Ivess at the poll, and he had told him what to do in the event of being challenged. (At this stage Mr Part ell proposed to treat the witness as a hostile one. Mr Wilding objected, and during an altercation that followed said Mr Purnell acted as a spy. Mr Purnell retorted “ You’re a liar, air; a scoundrel to call me a spy,” and displayed considerable indignation at the insinuation. _ The } Bench determined not to treat the witness las a hostile one). Witness, continuing, I said he regarded the accused as a respect- { able man, incapable of making a false deI deration. j George Lea said the (accused had been I in his employ at Methven during Feb* I ruary and March. I (Mr Wilding (proposed to examine the j witness as to accused’s (character, but the | Bench ruled that such an examination was I inadmissable. I [Left Sitting at 6 p.m]