ALLEGED "LAMBING DOWN."

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 230, 22 September 1908, Page 2

ALLEGED "LAMBING DOWN."

GISBOIiXE LLBJili CASK. By Telegraph.-TPreas Association. I Gisborie, Last Night. . This libel case, Joseph Burke v. Gisborue Times, a claim of £250 damages, was continued during the afternoon before Judge Edwards. On the conclusion of plaintiff's ease, Mr. (Jen. Hutchison, of Wanganui, opened for tlie defence. The barman at the liecord Keign Hotel broke down in a fainting lit twice whilst under cross-examina-tion, and ultimately both counsel agreed to have his evidence cancelled. Joseph Burke, the licensee of the liecord Eeign Hotel, where the alleged ''lambing down" was said to have taken place, was then called. He was in. the box for fully three hours, Die greater part of the time being devoted to a severe cross-examination by Mr. Hut- I cliison. His statement was to the effect that 'he cashed Pearson's cheque for £37 18s on the Tuesday, giving 'Mm back £l7 16s, and keeping £2O for him. In respect to this' £2O he made out an "1.0. U.," and upon it lie subsequently made nine entries, purporting to represent different sums of moIncy said to have been disbursed to Pearson before he • left on the following Saturday. There was no signature or even initials against these items,

but Pearson's signature was placed at the top of the document. His Honor commented upon this peculiarity, pointing out that anything might have been written underneath. l'iiiintiir declared that the various entries 'had been made on dill'erent days, but his Honor stated that it looked as though they had all been written at one lime.

iSurko also testified to havi'jg gone to Pukowhai station, accompanied by a local Justice of the Peace, after the paragraph appeared, to interview Pearson, who, however, declared he remembered scarcely anything of what happened to him during his visit lo town. Whilst the statement of accounts was being gone into, liis Honor remarked that if Burke had hot "lambed the man down," certainly someone else had. He could never have drunk £l4 worth in one day, He frequently censured plaintiff for his manner of giving evidence. Burke alleged that Uie man •was never under the influence of liquor while lodging at his place. Sergl. Huttoii, re-called, stated that Pearson was in a beastly state of intoxication when he <t«.i brought to the lock-up at 11 a.m. on the Friday morning. Burke bailed him out at 0 in the evening. The case was adjourned.