PERJURY CHARGES

Hokitika Guardian, 24 October 1929, Page 3

PERJURY CHARGES

»By Telegraph-—Per Press'Association.) INVEBOARIGILL, October 23. In the Polict Court this morning. Patrick O’Donnell was charged with committing perjury on June I.2th, at Invercargill in certain judicial proceedings. By reason of .the fact that W. H. Woodward, S.M., before whom the case, out of which the charge, arose was heard, was called by the police nr a witness, it was found necessary to bring the case before two Justices of the Peace and Messrs A. W. Jones and M. Miller occupied the benchi The exact wording of the information charged defendant with committing perjury by falsely swearing as follows, or to the following effect: “I am quite certain my car was not out of the garage on the night of April 12th., 1929. My son Joseph was not out of the house that night. Neither he nor the car was in Invercargill that night.” This was alleged to have been said during the hearing of a charge against Joseph O’Donnell, son of accused, of driving a motor car by night without , a tail light.

Senior Sergeant Fox outlined the course of the whole proceedings, and declrred the steps leading up to tlie prosecution on June 12th. Both accused and his son appeared before the Magistrate, and as a result of their evdience the case had been dismissed. As a result of further information received, the police reopened the case on July 26th. A conviction had been entered. The whole matter had been referred to Wellington and the Solicitor General’s permission was obtained to nmseoute both accused and his son. Mr Eustace Bussell, who appeared for the accused, mentioned that in view of the evidence which had been called at the rehearing, he had advised the accused to plead guilty, and on the second occasion he had not appeared in the box.' At the conclusion of the evidence IV,r the prosecution, accused’s counsel intimated that the accused had nothing to say. Accused was committed to the Supreme Court for trial, and lie reserved his defence. Bail was fixed at £ICO. A similar charge was preferred against Joseph O’Donnell, who was also committed for trial.