“AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH.”

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4545, 18 December 1930, Page 4

“AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH.”

There is little doubt that the general pulblio, which have little to do with Courts, have the impression that a great deal is said in the witness box that is untrue, remarks the '“Otago Daily Times.” It might he more correctly said that much is stated in evidence that is inaccurate. Tests are said to have disclosed that a dozen •people viewing such an occurrence as a motor accident would give almost as many different accounts of what happened, if asked to record their impressions immediately afterwards. An interesting case in point occurred in the City Police Court last wedk in proceedings which followed a collision in which a gig, a motor van, and a motorear wferci 'concerned. The honesty of the witnesses was in no way questioned, hut, while one side contended that the car hit the van and then the gig, the evidence was just as definite on the other side that the car hit the gig first. An even more striking case occurred only on the previous day in a civil 'action. In this case, too, the honesty of the parties seemed obvious, but while the plaintiff and his witnesses said that the night on which the accident occurred was fine and the road Ary, the defendant stoutly adhered to his statement that a light rain was falling. As good an illustration as could be given of how impressions differ was the result of a test not long ago at- the Otago University. A play was perfowned before a. class which was not informed of what it was to lie asked to do. During one of the acts a man quite unexpectedly appeared on the stage and shot one of the actors. Confusion followed, and the play was immediately stopped, and the members of the class were asked to give an account of what had happened. 'There proved to be an extraordinary and aimusing difference in the descriptions which were written.