LAW CLERKS AND WITNESSES
A JUDGE'S COMMENTS (By Telegraph—Speciul to "-The Mail”) AUCKLAND, 31st July, lii (lie case in which. Joseph Silver (29) was charged with'forgery and utterance, Clarence O’Halloran, the principal witness for the Crown, stated that lie had not signed the document produced in Court authorising Silver to collect money in witness’ name. He had been asked to sign a document in Mr J. F. W. Dickson's (counsel for accused) office by his clerk, but 'ho had refused to do so, saying that he had given a statement to the police. Mr Justice Ostler: ‘‘Mr Dickson, 1 hope you realise it is not u wise practice to allow law clerks to approach witnesses for the Crow'll and get them to try to make statements contrary to ovi donee they have given.” Mr Dickson: “It has been ruled.by Judges that there is no such tiling as a, Witness for the Crown. Tho maji came into the office and saw' my clerk.” His Honour: “I’m not. suggesting you saw him. It would be a very dangerous thing for counsel to do. When your clerk saw r that the man was a witness for tho Crown lie should have turned him out of thei office. We have seen the unfortunate' result of something of the kind in the recent Christchurch case.”
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NEM19290801.2.106
Bibliographic details
Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 1 August 1929, Page 10
Word Count
220LAW CLERKS AND WITNESSES Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 1 August 1929, Page 10
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