A CHARGE OF PERJURY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2095, 1 June 1907, Page 4

A CHARGE OF PERJURY.

denying criminal record

good USE MADE OF FINGERPRINTS.

William James Lyons, alias 'William Clarko, appeared bolero tho Magistrate, Mr. W: A. Barton, yesterday afternoon, on a remanded charge of having on 22nd May last, the Police Court, Gisborne, with answering a charge of boing an iu. ■ and disorderly person having insufficient lawful moans of support, swearing to tho effect ho never had his finger print falcon, prior to its boing done in Gisborne, that ho was not ancstod at Lyttelton as a stowaway and sentenced on 22nd January, 1905, to 14 days undor tho name of Williinm Clarko or William James Lyons, and that ho was not charged at Christchurch on 23rd July, 1903, with wilful damage and assault and sentenced to forty-eight hours and seven days. Detective Maddorn conducted the prosecution and called — G. J. A. Johnstono, clerk of tho Court, who deposed that ho was present on 22nd May when accused was charged with vagrancy. Ho was duly sworn as a witness on. his own bohalf. 1191110 being cross-examined by tho detoctivo, ho stated that ho had never hud his finger print taken prior ti its having beon dono in Gisborne, that lie had not been charged at Lyttelton ns a stowaway and convicted, and that ho hud not been charged with assault and wilful damage and beon sentenced to a term of imprisonment.

Constablo Hancox stated that he was present at tho Magistrate’s Court on 22nd inst., and ho corroborated tho evidence of tho provious witnoss.

John Joyco, a Canterbury sheepfarmer, said lie was clei'k in tho Lyttolton prison for a number of years and acted in that capacity on 21st January, 1905, and took the fingei* prints (produced). Identified them as the prints of > prisoner named William Clarke, serving a sentence of 14 days for being a stowaway. Prisoners usually signed tho print immediately after the impression was taken. Accused’s signature was there. As far as he knew tho description of the prisoner given in tho document, was correct.

Constable Davy stated that accused was in his custody on Btli May a 3 gaoler. Witness took his finger prints and identified those, produced. Accused signed the last print. Tho description given on the paper was a correct one.

Detective Quartermain, finger print export, said he had compared the finger prints sworn to by Constable Davy with those of William Clarke, convicted of boing a stowaway, and he was convinced beyond all doubt that they were identical in every respect. He had had about 150,000 finger prints through liis hands and had never yet found two fingers alike. The description of William Clarke and that of accused coincided and the signature was also very similar. In the course of a conversation with accused yesterday morning, accused admitted being William Clarge. This concluded the case for the prosecution. Accused stated he had nothing to say; he intended pleading guilty. Accused hero entered a plea of guilty. His Worship committed the accused to the Supreme. Court at Auckland for sentence.