ALLEGED PERJURY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1377, 22 October 1886, Page 3

ALLEGED PERJURY

EXTRAORDINARY case

(From to-day’s Press.) At the Resident Magistrate’s Omt Christchurch yesterday morning, before Messrs Beetham, R.M., and Parymso, J.P., the continuation of a case was heard, which in its course developed some startling facts. To make the story intelligible, the following resume of the case is given—especially as at the first hearing it seemed not to present any features differing from those frequently occurring, and which, as in th s s instance, are passed over w'th briefest mention.

On Thursday, October 14f.h, before Mr Beetham alone, Harriet Bennst, brought tipi on information, o - e TSl'esnere Goodwin, charging him with that he, being the father of her illegitimate child, refu ed t > contribute to its support.

The girl, who Is a modest-looking girl, aged sixteen, was represented by Hr Stringer. Mr Longhrey appeared for the defendant, who is abon*-. twenty-two years old, and is described as the son of a we’l-to-do farmer. * The complainant is the daughter of a farmer, and the parties resided at Jreenpark, not far from each other;

At this hearing, after the complainant’s Story, it was shown that two brothers cf the giri had called on defendant, who refused to do anything for her on the ground that others had hod intercourse with her, A witness was called named Stephen Hubbard. He said he was not qnite sixteen years old, but he appeared a strapping fellow for bis age. He to’d m categorical story of a certain occasion when be bsd been int ; mote with the gi l He said that she bad enticed him one evening into the chapel yard. He added that be had met her that evening in company with two girls, Caroline and Emily Magou : they walked together a W'u’e, when the Magon girls left them at » corner and after that be and Miss Bennett went to the chapel y*rd. At this stag' the case was adjourned until to-day, to procure 'he attendance of the Magon girls. When the case came on t~-day Mr Stringer put the youth Hubbard into the box, and, in answer to questions, he related the following extraordinary story : “ They persuaded me to to say that ; they offered money to me to do It. Goodwin and his father came to my father’s bouse on the day before the Court day— October 13th. They brought some drink with them. They took me away to their place, I remained there ail night, and they drove me down to the Court. He offered me £3 to come to Court to clear him. Be told me what be was charged with. I wonld not have done it only he persuaded me. It is not true what I said before. I know nothing about the girl. He told me to say that I had been with her. When I g't home after the Conrt was over my father, who did not know where I had been, spoke to me, and I confessed to him.”

‘ To Mr Longhrey—l saw yon before Oe hearing, end told yon the msde-up slrry. Also that two other young fetlcws had tpld me that they had been with her. I said Kimber was ope of them. These yonng fellows never did tell me any such th'ng. I would not have done It only he persuaded me. It was Goodwin wbo persuaded me. To Mr Beetham—The story abor.t the chapelyard was entirely untrue Goodwin persuaded me, or 1 should not have said it. : Emily Msgon and Caroline Magon swore that they never were in company with Hubbard, together with Miss Bennett. They never had walked on anj occa ion with Hubbard

Mr Loughrey recalled the complainant, who deposed that the intimacy wiih Goodwin took place on November 18 h, at about 730 or 8 p.m: Bhe fixed the date by the Cattle Show day. Mr Longhrey said he would produce evidence to show that defendant was a long way off the neighborhood on Novem her 18th. He called John Center.

John Cotter who was very drunk, got Into the witness-box with some difficulty, but Immediately laid bis head down on the book ledge and seemed Inclined to go to sleep, whereupon his Worship ordered him to be taken into custody and locked np. BJr Longhrey said Cotter sober was very different from Cotter drunk, h's tale, when ha was all right, was straight forward, and would to doubt, when beard, convince the Bench that the defendant wfar away from the girl on the day she fixed on. All that could be done now was to ask for an adjournment until Cotter oonld be brought up when sober. Mr Stringer hoped that, in that case, good security would be exacted for the reappearance of Goodwinj for it was intended to prefer charges of perju y and subornation of perjury when the evidence (of which there was more) was complete Mr Beethan said he intended te move in that direction, and Instructed Chief Detective Neil, who was present, to lay Informations against Hubbard for perjury and' against Goodwin for subornation of perjury. This was promptly done, and the ac» cased were remanded till October 26th. bail being exacted, Goodwin in £2OO aae two sureties »n £2OO each ; Hobbard him self in £IOO and one surety in £IOO. Hubbard’s father was rcoepted as his security, and it was understood that Pppdwiule bail would be found. The affiliation case also stands over till October 26tb.