PERJURY CHARGE.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 March 1917, Page 5

PERJURY CHARGE.

THE WI HAPE CASE! By Telegraph.—Press Association. Hamilton, March 80., The Wi Hape case was continued. The witness Mnhia denied being at thd ' ' Aurora Hotel with Wi Hape, as statej - ' in tlie latter's confession, which alleged that. Mr Lundon induced Wi Hap® to /• 1 spirit Afphia away. The barman of the Aurora Hotel, itt 1 -v. Auckland, said that an entry in a iook: vf produced was his, showing the rooui paid) 'r for by two natives giving their names: ' '£j as Wi jHape. " , ,p r Counsel for the accused said that the ■ hitter would swear that his confession », ' was absolutely true. 1 Sergeant Cassels said he believed 'the Natives had given Air Lundon a largo' ' sum of money to appear for them, Counsel submitted that the accuwtt ' ' was only carrying out the instruction* of V. Mr Lundon. . * i

ACCUSED FOUND GUILTY. ■ Hamilton, Last Nighf. . ,V, Tliis afternoon accused swore in the ' J bo* that his confession, which was read' yesterday, was absolutely true. . Mr. >Lundon, solicitor for the defence Vat the Rua trial, *vas called as a wit- "3 nesp. When in the bo\ he ''"ji fiontcd with Wi Hape's confession. ' His leply was: "It'is. an infamous lie." Wit-, 4 ness then entered upon a lengthy statu* "•«- ment, in which he nllegcd that the whole 5 .•$ matter was a conspiracy against him; ia« /'f eluding, amopgst others, the solicitor for the defence (Mr. Hampson) as one of the central figures. , ■!>. Air. Mays, for the Crown, in addressing 1 > the jury, said this was a serious ftt« ,£'] tewnt to stamp out 4 hideous form ot conspiracy and perjury, which had been V j built up and had entwined itself around • r. the criminal law. , .''j Summing up, his Honor said that ix( considering the charge against the ac< I eused the jury had to decide whether by</%' doing the acts alleged against him ho "ffll had wilfully defeated and obstructed the *J course of justice. , "3 After a retirement of forty min»te»j S the jury 'found accused guilty. Prisoner I .' A <vas renjanded for sentence until the con«! ' 'V' elusion of the sitting. The other cases, were adjourned until Wednesday mom* y