R. M. COURT, GISBORNE.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 54, 31 January 1884, Page 2

R. M. COURT, GISBORNE.

(Before T; W. Porter, Esq., J.P.) YESTERDAY. perjury. POLICE V. REW! TE RANGITERE, The evidence in the above case was taken on Monday last. His Worship reserved his decision until Wednesday morning, which was as follows :—I have come to the conclusion to dismiss this charge upon several grounds, all of which I need not detail, and perhaps it would be the wisest course to dismiss it without remark, but I feel I should not be acting justly in doing so, as more than ordinary importance attaches itself to the case. I am fully convinced it is a case of mistaken identity—that the prisoner Bewi did not commit the perjury when swearing that he sold the greenstone to Mr. Francis. The evidence in the case shows clearly he was in possession of the greenstone on the Saturday after the loss, and prior to the Sunday on which it was sold. The evidence given as to the identity of the prisoner Karauria Kahu in the previous case was weighty, but when it is considered that the European witness could be so easily misled, when the fact is observed that the stamp of features, height, and general appearance of the prisoners Rewi and Karauria Kahu are similar, and, as the witness stated, their acquaintance with the man who sold the greenstone wasonly of about five minutes’ duration, in a semi-lighted room or passage, and persons most familiar with native features would be misled as to identity. Charge dismissed. The prisoner was released and again arrested on the charge of receiving stolen goods. Mr. DeLautour, on behalf of the prisoner, said if the police were prepared to go on with the case he was not, and would therefore ask to have the prisoner remanded for a week or so. Sergeant Bullen said he would require about eight days to get the case up. The prisoner was therefore remanded till this day week, bail being allowed, himself in £5, and two sureties of £25 each.