CHARGE OF PERJURY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 113, 20 August 1910, Page 5

CHARGE OF PERJURY.

THE' NiODME CASK ACCUSED ACQUITTED. By Telegraph.—Press Association.. Wellington, Last Night. /Charles Nodine stood his trial in the Supreme Court to-day, before Mr. Justice Chapman, on a charge of perjury. The Crown (Prosecutor was Mr. H. H. Ostler. Accused was not represented by counsel. He conducted his own defence. The indictment charged the accused: with committing perjury at the hearing of a certain civil action in the Supreme Court of New Zealand on June 1, 1010, in which Robert Hannah was plaintiff and (Nbdine was defendant, by falsely swearing, when shown a certain agree-" ment between (Robert Hannah and Nodine, (1) that he did not sign, the agreement, arnd (2) that the signature attached to the agreement, and purporting to be his, was not his. The Crown Prosecutor intimated that the charge arose ooiit of a civil action in the Supreme Court, where James Alexander Hannah was plaintiff and accused was defendant. Sketching the cause of the action, he said the accused negotiated with (Robert Hannah, father lof plaintiff, in the civil proceedings for I the lease of (Hannah's buildings on iLambton Quay. An agreement was drawn-up by Mr. Wylie, of the firm of Chapman, Skerrett, Wylie and Tripp. The agreement was signed by both parities, but accused! refused to execute the lease. Proceedings were taken, and accusd (the defendant in the civil action) denied that the signature to the agreement was his. The jury, the Crown prosecutor said, would be able to compare the writings and papers for them* selves. His Honor here interposed 1 , and informed: the Crown Prosecutor that the writing could not be submitted: to the jury without the support of expert evidence. It waa a mere technical matter, but, under the circumstances, it would be well to adhere to it. . Continuing, counsel said! accused dcnied the signature on oath. He was not hurried or brow-beaten into denying. ' The Chief Justice had given ihiia until the end of ;tlie week to consider his oath, and l , if he apologised His Honor that nothing more Would be heard of it. Accused, however, at the end of toe week still persisted in his statement, Evidence was taken at considerable length, and the case lasted till well on is the" evening. ■ The jury returned a verdict of not guilty," being of opinion that Nodine had believed what he said).