SUPREME COURT SITTINGS. Extraordinary Charges of Perjury,

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 80, 13 December 1884, Page 3

SUPREME COURT SITTINGS. Extraordinary Charges of Perjury,

Inveroargill, December 10. The criminal session of the Supreme Court opened yesterday, before Justice Williams, who congratulated the Grand Jury on the lightness of the calendar. His charge was mainly devoted to three cases of perjury, in dealing with which he said no questions of law were involved, but the facts were peculiar. It appeared that some time ago one Macauley laid an information for assault against one Meikle, At the hearing, Macauley swore that he had been assaulted by Meikle ; at the same time Meikle and one Garrie swore positively that no assault had taken place. The Magistrate, however, convicted Macauley, and afterwards laid an information for perjury against Meiklo and Garrie in swearing that the former had not assaulted him, and in consequence they were committed for trill. Meikle in his turn laid an information against Macauley for perjury for swearing that he had been assaulted, and Macauley was also committed for trial. They had thustbree chargesbefore them. He need hardly point out the absurdity of finding all ■ three guilty. If they believed Macauley swore truly, they would find the others guilty, and if they believed Meikle and Garrie, they would find Macauley fuilty. What he suggested was that before ringing in a bill against either, they should hear the evidence in all three cases, and then decide. Although they could hardly find a true bill against all three, still it might happen that they might think that the evidence was so contradictory that it would be extremely improbable that a petty jury would convict in either case. If they thought so, it would be competent for them to ignore all the bills. The Grand Jury then found true bills against William Miller (attempted suicide), Francis Marisco (manslaughter), and T. G. Hoarey (forgery). In the case of Miller, His Honor did not pass sentence, but discharged prisoner on his own recognisances of £50. Accused said he had been driven to the act through drinking. Frank Marisco, for manslaughter, was discharged, and ordered to come up when called on. F. J. Hare, for perjury, received two years with hard labour. Chas. Sutherland, for cutting and wounding at Queenstown, was discharged, no true bill being returned. The Grand Jury are now considering the perjury cases.