SERIOUS CHARGE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 26 July 1929, Page 2

SERIOUS CHARGE

SOLICITOR ONI; OF THE ACCUSED ißj T*U*r»Ph—Press Association) CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. Before the Magistrate, Mr today, a solicitor named Chanlgs Stewart Thomas was charged that: “On or about 2thli April, 1929, at Christchurch, ho did wilfully attempt to pervert the course of justice in an information against John Boyd Clark, charged with negligently driving a motor cur, and causing tiie death of Maureen Doris Mitchell.” There was a similar charge against Frank Drear Clark. Messrs A. C. Stanton and M. J. Uressuii represented accused. The charge against Thomas was taken first. In opening the case the Child Detective said tlint Thomas appeared for Clark at the hearing in the Lower Court, which was commenced on 24th. April, mid adjourned to enable two witnesses to he brought from the West Coast. These two witnesses left the West Coast on 27th April to give evidence in Christchurch. On the evening before I he V left Greymouth they were approached hv a man, and on arrival in Christ - church they were met by Thomas at the Windsor Hotel, where they were staying. They were taken nut to Thomas’s motor car, and were together lor 20 minutes. It was alleged that in the course of the interview Thomas tried to influence their evidence in favour of accused. They told Thomas they had made statements' to the police, and told him what these statements were. At the hearing in the Lower Court they gave evidence, and the evidence of one of them did not quite come up to the statement to the police. After the hearing in the Lower Court the two witnesses,' McPliee and Gordon, stayed a week for the Supreme Court sitting, and during that week they were connnunicited with by Thomas, and on the Saturday before the Supreme Court sitting, McPliee went to Thomas’s office and was there for half an hour. McPliee would tell the Court that during the course of that interview Thomas endeavoured to influence his evidence in several ways. James McPliee, a miner, said that he was in Christchurch on 31st March in company with James Wilson Gordon. Witness saw an accident at the Clock Tower corner as the result of which Miss Mitchell met her death. Witness proceeded to relate the alleged conversations with Thomas, saying that he asked witness to be a “sport,” and to give his client a fair hearing. Accused said that it. was no use sending Clark for a “stretch,” as the girl was gone. Accused tried to bring out sympathy for his client. After the Lower Court hearing Thomas wanted witness to contradict his statement, about the. number of times the car spun round. Thomas said that if witness was not sure as to the number of times the car had spun then he could say the estimate of speed* was exaggerated. Witness refused to alter his statement. Thomas said that- if he could do so it would he made worth his while. Witness refused point blank and told Thomas that as far as he was concerned witness was hostile.