IN THE WITNESS BOX.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1377, 1 March 1912, Page 4

IN THE WITNESS BOX.

A LIVELY CROSS-EXAMI NATION. (Bj Telceraph.-Spcclal Correspondent,) Auckland, February 29. The customary decorum of the Supreme Court was shattered for a brief space just before the luncheon adjournment to-day. 'The first indication of the impending storm was given during the cross-examination of a young man who bocame somewhat confused as to dates. The Court was startled by a fcmal* cry of "Johnnie!" It proceeded from the niother of the witness who was observed to immediately retire from th« rear portion of tlio Court. A few minutes later she wan lirreelf called as a witness, the case fctfiiig one in which a fethnlo prisoner was charged with breaking, entering, theft, ami ai-f.on. Her method of taking tho oulli wus somewhat boisterous, the witness declaring her intention to "speak tho truth only. Soon after tho commencement ot crossexamination the Crown Solicitor (tho Hon. J \. Tole, K.C.), asked: "\ou have had a little drink this morning, have you Witness: How do you know? Jlr. Tole: Bccauso the atmosphere of tho Court changed so completely tho moment you camp in. ' Witness (excitedly): You didn t get any of it, anyway. Mr. Tole: How many drinks have you Witness (raspingly): Find out! Mr. Tole: You will not answer?

Witness (defiantly): No. Mr. Tole: You have had more than on* lon;r beer? Witness: It might have been. (Laughter.) Mr Tole: Your namo is Janet PollardP Witness: Yes., What of it? _ Mr. Tole: You have been convicted of keeping an undesirable house, of vagrancy, of consorting with thieves? Witness (who hntl been interrupting with fiery interjections): I never caino here to have my name ragged about. Who nro you, anyhow? You are Mr. Tola I suppose? Mr. Tole questioned tho witness aboul the correctness of a statement made by Detective Hawk. Witness (bluntly): Who's Hawk? Jlr. Tole: A detective., Witness (sharply): Then let him come forward. Mr. Tole: Detective Hawk says you snid so. Witness (bluntly): Hawk's a liar. Mr. 'J'ole: That is your style of lan* gnugc, is it? Witness: I beg your pardon, I never suid any such thing. Mr. 'lole: That is more polite. Have you anything against Detective Hawk? Witness: I never siuv him till he cam* to my house. Jlr. Tole: Undesirable characters have been in your house, have they not? Witness: No, and I was not aware that this woman was one. Mr. Tolo: In fact, it is a house that requires to bo under the eye of the police, is it not? Witness (with vehemence): No. / AVitness was then released from tho box, but: her highly pitched voice was not lost to hearing until her retreat from the Court was complete.