“THE WORST PERJURY”

Taranaki Daily News, 17 October 1921, Page 4

“THE WORST PERJURY”

COMMENT BY MAGISTRATE. LEAVE TO APPEAL P.EFUSED. By Telegraph— P.'bbh Association Auckland, Last Night. Strong! comment was made by Mr. Poynton, S.M., in the Police Court on Saturday on the evidence given at the j e-hearing of a case in which Cornelius McDevitt was sentenced to fourteen days’ imprisonment for using a departmental concession order to obtain a railway ticket to which he was not entitled. The re-hearing was granted on the ground that fresh evidence was available.

In his decision the magistrate said the new evidence consisted mainly of a statement by Richard Fogarty, a barman, to the effect that on the date of the offence he waj? given an order for a concession ticket by one Brewin, with a request that he should obtain money from Mrs. Brewin and purchase the ticket. He afterwards met defendant, who desired to discuss business, and he offered to obtain the ticket for him tc save time. The magistrate said he was certain the story was a concoction, giving several reasons, and accused was sentenced to fourteen days’ imprison ment.

The magistrate refused leave to appeal, saying: “A man who commits suck an offence and then comes and tells such lies about it, is not deserving of any consideration. It is simply shocking what he ha& done, and then to come and perjure himself, and. in addition induce others to perjure themselves.” Later the magistrate remarked: “It’s the worst perjury I’ve heard in this court.”