ALLEGED PERJURY

Gisborne Times, Volume LXV, Issue 10313, 24 January 1927, Page 3

ALLEGED PERJURY

CHARGES AGAINST CONSTABLE

LOCICETT CASE AGAIN HEl'o OOultT. DU NEILL'S, Jan. 21. After several adjcuri meats, tlie perjury charges against Constable George Macartney were proceeded with to-day at the City Police Court. This was the sequel to an action in the Supreme Court in November last when John William Lockett was awarded substantial damages against the constable for assault and false arrest. Macartney has been in the police force for twenty-eight years. •It is about twenty years ago since a Dunedin police constable has been charged with perjury, and in that case the information was dismissed. in the Police Court accused was represented bv Mr. A. C. Hanlon, who had defended him in the civil action. The Crown 'Solicitor (Mr. 'l - J 5. Adams) conducted the prosecution. The charges were as follow: (I) “That Geo.' Macartney, of Dunedin, police constable, did, on Nov. 3, 1926, at Dunedin, commit perjury' <) n t"° hearing of an action brought in the Supreme Court at Dunedin by John William Lockett against George Macartney, by swearing firstly, that at about 11.30 p.m. on July 23, 1926, in Kenmuir Road, Mormngton, John William Lockett was very drunk and there arrested *Tolin Will inrn T-ooKotfc for drunkenness in a public place; and, secondly, that when coming along the road Lcckctt was .staggering .all over the road and smelled very strongly of liquor; and, thirdly, that Lockett was staggering all over the road and was drunk and thoroughly drunk; and, fourthly, that when he had Lockett in the watch-house and put him in the cell he was still drunk; (2) that George Macartney on November 3, 1926, at Dunedin, did commit perjury on the hearing of an action brought in the Supreme Court at Dunedin bv Lockett against Macartney bv swearing that he never at anv time struck Lockett a blow of nnv description either with clenched fist or otherwise during the whole or the struggle between himselt and John William Lockett on tlie night ot July 23. 1926. Lockett gave evidence practically on the same lines as that given by him in the Supreme Court, and before that in the Police Court when he was charged with drunkenness. The case was adjourned till 1U a.m. ou Tuesday.—P.A.