CHARGE OF PERJURY

Hokitika Guardian, 29 October 1920, Page 4

CHARGE OF PERJURY

PALMERSTON NORTH, Oct. 27. F. E. Easton, racehorse owner, Foxton, appeared before Mr Wyvern Wilson S.M., to-day on four charges of alleged perjury. The prosecution was directed by Mr J. L. Stout, S.M., as an outcome of a civil. case, Easton, v. Wright, heard at Foxton recently. Easton claimed £2OO on a dishonoured cheque given in purchase' of tho horse Stevens by Wright in 1911. AVright claimed that Easton agreed to take the horse hack ,as witness had been disquali fied. Easton had said he had not presented the cheque and the horse accordingly was sent hack. Trask, a horse trainer, said Stevens had been subsequently leased to him, he to receive either 15 per ©ent. or 20 per cent, on the winnings. The lease had been drawn up in Easton’s office on Easton’s estate, signed by them both, and subsequently posted to the secretary of tho Racing Conference for registration. Stevens had been raced in his name, and when the horse had broken down Easton had given him -fifi witness.

The secretary of the Racing Conference said he had seen the registration of the lease of Stevens from Easton to Trask. The lease had been burnt and witness could not swear to tlie signature. *

The Clerk of the Court at Foxton said that Easton denied at the hearing of the civil case that he had leased Stevens to Trask, that he had subsequently given him to Trask, when he had broken down, or that the horse had ever been back on his place after ho had sold to Wright. Easton had explained the fact that he had not presented the cheque until July, 1920, nine years after it had been given to him ,by the fact that he had known that Wright was short of funds. When he heard of Wright’s winnings at the Wellington winter meeting he had presented the cheque. It had been dishonoured. Mr Wilford, for accused, reserved the defence. Accused. pleaded not guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial, bail being allowed in £IOO in own recognisances.