CENTRAL ELECTION

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 25, 24 October 1918, Page 8

CENTRAL ELECTION

PERSONATION ALLEGED

SERIOUS CHARGES AGAINST A

SEAMAN

An echo of the by-election for Wellington Central was heard in the Magistrate's Court ■ yesterday, when a man named James Luke Uuglan, a member of the Seamen's Union, was arraigned on four charges of breaches of the electoral laws. The allegations against him were that on October 3, at No. 8 polling booth, Willis Street Schoolroom, he did auulv for a voting paper in the name ot Walter Gent; that at No. 10 polling booth, St. Peter's Schoolroom, ho applied for a voting paper in the name of eomo other person; that at No. 15 polling booth, Aro Street, he applied for a voting paper in the name of Thomas Jeromson; and that at No. 3 polling booth, Palace Auction Mart, Vivian Street, he committed the offence of personation, in.that, having voted once at Hie by-election, he did apply again at the same election for a voting paper in Ills own name. Actin"-Sub-lnspector Emerson prosecuted, and Mr. H. F. o'Loary appeared for the accused, who pleaded not guilty. Mr. l-\ ?. Frazer, S.M., was on the bench. ■ . William Ewart Gladstone, Registrar of Electors for Wellington Central, stated that flic name of Walter Gent, of 279 Cuba Street, was on the electoral roll of the district. A man.of that name had apparently voted at the booth at Willis Street Schoolroom. A vote had also been recorded in the name of James Luke Ha»laa at Vivian Street. Witness saw accused at the Willis Street booth, and was informed by him that he was a seaman.

• To Mr. O'Leary: About 280 votes were recorded at No. 8 booth, Willis Street. Accused also filled in a voting paper at Vivian Street, but witness, who was present, would not "allow it to be placed in the ballot-box, nor was it included in the total of votes recorded. ~ Ernest Mnnsfield . Beechey, who was deputy-returning officer at No.. 8 booth, Willis Street, staJecl that during the afternoon of the by-election he saw accused at the booth. Accused applied for a voting paper in the name .of Walter Gent, and recorded his vote in that name. Immediately after application was made for the paper it wos discovered' that the man Gent was a eeamnn. Accused demurred about signing the application to vote, and said he 'Did not. want to put his iiead in a noose," Accused was not exactly sober, but he seemed to realise what he was doing. Witness identified him later in tho day, when he was brought to the booth by a constable,' Mr. O'Leary (smiling): I suppose r.s ( a solicitor, MY. Beeehey, you are aware of the necessity for being careful in the matter of identification? , Witness: I am. Mr. O'Leary: Yon have known the question arise on previous occasions? "Witness: Yes. Mr. O'Leary: Yon are certain that this was the man? Witness: I am. \ Mr. O'Leary: What was his condition when you saw him on the second occasion? ' Witness: He appeared to be strictly sober.

I'raneis James Kenn, who was a poll clerk at No. 8 booth, corroborated the evidence of the previous witness. Constable Quinn stilted that ho arrested accused in the name of James Luke Haglan. Mr. Gladsone, ,, recalled, stated that a vote had been recorded at St. Peter's Schoolroom in the namo of Thomas Jeromson, and thnt a man named Jnmes Luke Baglan had voted at Vivian Street. Ewart Alexander Selwyn, who wa"s poll clerk at St. Peter's Schoolroom, said that accused called there during the afternoon of the election, and as far as witness remembered he was given a paper, and voted. He could not recollect what name lie voted under. John Bowden,' employed by Turnbull and Jones, who was scrutineer for' Mr. .Eraser at St. Peter's Schoolroom, did not swear on the Bible, but took .in affirmation. He remembered a man with one eye coming to vote at St. Peter's Schoolroom. He could not sav whether it was accused, und was not disposed to say anything further than that it was a man with one eye. The man voted.

William J. T. Wiggs, Civil Servant, of 87 Hawkestone Street, who was depntyretitrnim,' officer at No. 15 booth, Aro Street, stated that accused applied for a voting paper at thnt booth in the name of Thomas Jeromson, a seaman. Accused did not vote, for he was not given a voting paper, as he was not in possession of a seaman's right.

At this stage, Acting-Sub-Insp?ctor Emerson stated that Thomas Jeroinson wos a seaman, and was at present absent from Wellington.. It was not known when ho would return.

BoberJ: R. Binning, who was on duty at Aro Street polling booth, stated that accused made an application to vote in the name of Jeromeon. Ife said he had no seaman's right, but had a dischargefrom « hospital ship, and wanted to vote without a seaman's right. Accused was given the opportunity of signing a form of application to vote, but refused to sign. He afterwards left the building. Further evidence was given by Jlr. Gladstone as to seeing accused 'at the booth at Willis Street,, where accused said he was <i seaman. Later on he saw accused nt'Vivinn Street polling booth Accused seemed to falter. Witness walked into the street, and then, being suspicious of accused, returned to the booih,.where ho saw accused making application for a ballot paper. He went up to him, and said, "Tlavo you not voted before?" Accused replied, "No." Witness then romafked, "Don't you remember mo?" Upon accused replying in the negative, witness asked, "Have you not already voted at Willis Street?" Accused said that ho had not done en. Witness "told him that he was doing wrong, but accused replied that he knew what he was doing. Accused proceeded to record a vote in the name of Jaiut's Luke JJaglun, which, however, witness ordered to bo set aside. In rpply to Mr. O'Leary, witness said thnt only ono vote, was rcorded in the name of James Lnke'Ruglan. •Mr.'O'l.enry. The case against him is that he voted previously ao" Walter Gent? Witness: Yes. Mr. O'Leary: It is not suggested that he voted previously as Raglan?, ■Witness: No. Mr. O'Leary: Did\you, in the exercise of your authority, set aside the "Gent" 'vote-? Witness: Yes. Corroborative evidence was given by Charles B. Carpenter, who was deputyreturniiiß officer at the Palace Auction Mart, Vivian Street. Accused pleaded not guilty to all the charges, and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Bail was renewed in the sum of j;sfl.