THE NODINE CASE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 856, 30 June 1910, Page 6

THE NODINE CASE.

PERJURY CHARGE.

ACCUSED BEFORE THE MAGISTRATE. COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. Tho sequel to tho recent Supremo Court action, Hannah v. Nodine (a suit concerning the lease of certain premises on Lambton Quay), during which a sensation was caused by tho refusal of tho defendant ,io acknowledge, as his own, the signature on tho lease committing him to an agreement of its terms, was tho appearance of Charles Nodine beforo Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M., at the Magis-. (rate's Court yesterday morning in answo rthe following charge:— "That, on June 1, 1010, at Wellington, he did commit perjury by swearing (when shown a certain agreement between James Alexander Hannah): 'I say it is not my signature. I did not sign that paper'—whereas in truth and in fact ho did. sign it." Chief Deteotivo Broberg conducted the case for the prosecution. Accused was not represented by counsel. Geore Henry Veale, crier at the Supreme Court, gave evidence as to administering the oath. G. Henry Veale, trier at the Supreme Court, gave evidence as to certain statements made by accused on oath during the recent proceedings. . His Worship (to the accused): Any ' questions ? The accused: No. ■ Herbert E.-Le Grove, official shorthand writer at the Supreme Court, was then called. He stated that be took a verbatim report of tho evidence in the case of Hannah v. Nodinc, and took down question and answer. Referring to the Supremo Court caso he quoted from his notes as follows:— His Honour (Sir Robert Stout), ro ferring to the lease "Exhibit A": Is this the paper? Mr. Nodine: No —that is not' the paper I signed. His Honour: Is that your signature? Mr. Nodine: No, your Honour, I" did not sign that. His Honour: Is that your signature? Mr. Nodine: T'_ looks very like it His Honour: Is that your signature? Mr.- Nodine: I cannot tell. His Honour: Do you mean to say yon cannot swear—yon do not know your own signature? Mr. Nodine: I cannot swear that thnt is the paper I signed. His Honour: I am not asking you that—l am asking: Is that vwir signature? Mr. Nodine: Well, your Honour, I Biy it is not my signature. I did pot sign that paper. His Honour (handing over a bundle of letters): Are these letters yours that yon sign? Mr. Nodine: Yes—l have no donbt they are. His Honour: Well, you had better lcok at the "Nodine"' in the letters and the "'Nodine" in the agreement. Mr. Nodine: Well, your Honour, I say it is not inv signature. His Honour: Then you did not sign it* Mr. Nodine: No—l did not sign that paper. His Worship (to accused): Any questions? Accused: No. Andrew Wylie (a member of the firm of Chapman, Skerrett, Wylie, and Tripp), deposed to having prepared the lease marked "Exhibit A." This was subsequently read to the parties, and signed by the parties (Robert Hannah and Charles Nodine), in his presence and in the presence of both. His Worship (to the accused): Any questions? Accused: No. _ Robert Hannah gave evidence that as instructed by Nodine and himself, the agreement in question was drafted by the solicitors, and was afterwards read over to both of them, and signed in the presence of Mr. Wylie and both parties. J his closed the evidence. The accused pleaded not guilty, reserved his defence, and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial, bait being fixed at .£IOO, with one suretv of .£IOO.