DISMISSED.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19146, 1 November 1927, Page 14

DISMISSED.

CHARGES AGAINST NEWSPAPERS Last week three City newspapers were charged in the Lower Court with aiding in the running of lotteries. The charges were- in connexion with the advertising of cross-word puzzles, to which there were several possible solutions. The prosecution contended that this was a breach, of the Gaming Act.

L. .N. Schofield, publisher of The PiiJESs, was charged with publishing an advertisement, whereby it was made to appear that certain premises were used for the purpose of a lottery. ' • A. D. Dunkley, publisher of the '•Sun," and T. E. Hobson, publisher of the "Lytteiton Times," were similarly charged. Mr H P. La wry, S.M., was on the lieucli. At the hearing .Mr It. A. Cuthbert. appeared for Schofield. Mr J. I). Hutchison for Dunkley, and Mr J. H. TJphani for Robson. ' " -The Magistrate-dismissed the informations, finding that there was no evidence to prove, an was alleged in the charge, that the advertisements related to the use of certain premises for the purpose of taking part in a lottery.

material was not before the meeting that would help them to investigate. His books ough«- to have been before the meeting. Ho suggested an adjournment in order that they could be produced. As not always tho same creditors attended an adjourned meeting, he suggested that if any creditor had any question to ask they should be asked there and then.

I Past History. Replying to Mr Lascelles, debtor said that he originally resided lie did Jiot know if there were any payments against him there. He went to Australia about 1916; it might be a little earlier. There were no debt's against him when he left Sydney. He did not arrive in Christchurch with. £2OO. About two years after he arrived he was sued for debt—about the end of 1924. The following year summonses were issued against him by the Christchurch Gas Co., E. Reece Ltd. and the Christchurch Brick Co., but all those accounts had been paid. Debtor denied that a defence he filed in October, 1925, against a claim by W. Goss and Co. had been struck out on the grounds that it was frivolous. Mr Lascelles produced the order of the Court. This stated that the defence was 'frivolous and vexatious."

I Continuing, in reply to -Mr Lascelles, I the debtor said that he had some cheques dishonoured in 192 G. } Mr Watters: What's the'object of j this? I Mr Lascelles: To show that he had contracted debts and had no reasonable expectation.of paying them.

Other Cheques Dishonoured. Mr Lascelles: Did you offer Mr Dannis four cheques in payment of an acoount about June, this year?— Yes. You handed him large cheques for amounts in excess of what you owed, hiin and walked off with the change*?—lt was not my fault that the cheques ; were dishonoured. (Laughter.) These cheques were dishonoured, and I have explained how they were dishonoured. Mr Sim: What was the amountf Mr Dennis: £3l. Mr Sargent: This unfortunate manMr Sim: These unfortunate creditors' Mr Sargent said that a man efcarged with murder was not bombarded with questions from two or three at the same time. Mr Lascelles: You gave Mr Dennis cheques for about £3l. Is that correct"—l suppose so. How much were the goods von were paying for?—A good deal mora than £u, but not more than £lO. At this juncture Mr Sargent raised the question' of the debtor's right to decline to answer questions that might incriminate him. Mr Lascelles, he said was trying "to catch" debtor.' He -was going to advise him to refuse to answer questions like those Mr- Lascelles had been asking. Mr Sim said that he strongly: objected to the term "trying to catch this man." The position was tliat the I debtor had evaded answering questions j Mr Watters said that the power of debtor to refuse to answer questions would require some time to took into Mr Sim said that at the aidjourned meeting he assumed debtor would produce his booksMr Watters: Yes. Mr Sim: Of course, if he do«sn't produce books there will be. troiftle! Mr Sargent said he would (guarantee personally that every available book would be produced. Mr Watters said" that-he "would address a letter to Mr Sargent setting out the heads under which he wanted information. The meeting was adjournejd till 2.1-5 p.m. on November 14th.