“IT’S A CONSPIRACY”

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 349, 9 May 1928, Page 13

“IT’S A CONSPIRACY”

UNUSUAL DEFENCE CHARGES OF INDECENCY JUDGE NOT IMPRESSED Alleging that a man named Williams Had conspired with six young girls to say he had been guilty of indecent exposure, William Brentnaif, who yesterday stood his trial on six counts of indecency, said the conspiracy was directed against him by Williams, who had threatened to “see him off the job.” Mr. Justice MacGregor was on the bench, and Mr. V. N. Hubble appeared for the Crown. Mr. Beckerleg represented the accused. Mr. Hubble stated that the accused had been employed by the Auckland City Council, and had charge of a crane at the Huia landing, on the Manukau Harbour. Several young girls gave evidence of the alleged indecency. In his evidence, Brentnall said Williams had spread the stories that he had indecently exppsed himself. “How could Williams get six young children to commit perjury? It is childish,” remarked his Honour. At a later stage his Honour had occasion to ask Mr. Beckerleg not to lead the witness, and suggested that he should give evidence himself. The accused denied the truth of the allegations, and stated that on the dates mentioned he was not in the vicinity. To Mr. Hubble: The children have not told the truth. Williams and another man came to my shanty before the police arrived, and gave me 24

hours to get out. “Your counsel has alleged a con spiracy. Who are the conspirators?’ asked his Honour.

Accused: Williams. And he conspired with these girls. Continuing this morning, a married woman gave evidence for the defence. When counsel was labouring a certain point concerning Williams his Honour asked what possible bearing it could have on the case.

“The whole question is whether the accused did or did not indecently expose himself. You ought to know better, Mr. Beckerleg. You cannot give evidence of outside parties, and if you want to clear up this point you should have called Williams.”

In bowing to his Honour's ruling, Mr. Beckerleg said he did not see why he could not ask the same questions of the witness that he would have asked Williams. The next witness said he had heard rumours of the alleged offences and he and another man decided to watch Brentnall. They did not catch him doing anything.

“And six children did,” interjected his Honour. Albert George Barr spoke of accused’s good character. He was proceeding to speak of the attempt by Williams to get Brentnall and himself off the job, when his Honour interjected.

“If there -is any grievance against this mysterious man Williams, why don’t you take proceedings against him? You know this evidence is inadmissable, and I will not argue with you. You are simply doing this to impress the jury.” Mr. Beckerleg in his address to the jury maintained that the witnesses for the defence had so contradicted themselves that the evidence could not carry any weight. Counsel stressed the fact that in every instance where two girls had been together their stories had differed in every respect as to what had actually happened. Dealing with Williams, counsel stated that the Crown knew before the case started that it would be suggested that Williams was at the bottom of the case and had decided to have Brentnall sent away from the district. His Honour: Please continue, Mr. Beckerleg. There is no doubt you know all about the conspiracy, or fancy you do. Mr. Beckerleg closed his address after speaking for over an hour and a-half.

His Honour said the case was a particularly sad one in many respects, but did not differ much from the same style of case usually brought before the Court. Whether this was a crime or a disease was another matter, but they had to treat it as a crime for the present. His Honour reviewed the evidence at length, and said the facts would have to be carefully considered. The girls, in his opinion, were particularly intelligent and truthful. The jury retired at 12.50 p.m.