SUPREME COURT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 12, 8 February 1909, Page 2

SUPREME COURT.

Jl IXiK'S STIiIOTt'RKS OX POLICE EVIDENCE. By Telegraph'—Press A a «ocl»\|ji. Wellington, Lust Night. Uii ln-itl'iiifr of the charge against ''"''ii I'e'hugin mill Stephen Ferdinand, of assaulting n Chinaman, was conclud--1,11 at l'"' Court yesterday, the accused lx'injr found not guilty.' In !' »f hi* summing up, Mr. Jusnee Cooper made reference to tile failure of the constable who gave evidence 10 State certain allced facts at the Magistrate's Court which he supplied yesterday. 'To say the leant," his declared, "lie was guilty of grosß carelessness, and it is liia own fault if his evidence is looked' on with suspicion. He made a statement when the ease was licfore the Magistrate's Court eleven days after tile occurrence. I would not K n the length of saying that his evidence is untrue, hut when the ease was lirst before tile Court he omitted two vcrv imnortant matters, matters which were the essence of the case, lie maile two statements affecting the criminality of the accused. Tie said tlmt he hear Joe Kie say that 'Pechugin knifed him in the hack of the ear," and that I'cchugin made no reply, and that lie also hear Pechugin say: 'I have done for the 1) b " His Honor affirmed again that it wa* the duty of every constable where a prisoner was taken before a magistrate to keep nothing hack in giving his evidence. In this case it was quite open to the jury to accept the constable's evidence if it saw fit, but he wished to again emphasise that : the constable's evidence was open to very severe criticism.