AN EXTRAORDINARY CASE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2113, 18 October 1890, Page 3

AN EXTRAORDINARY CASE.

Cheibtchb'UCh, Oct 15

At the Justices’ Court to-day Eden George was charged, under the Malicious Injury to Property Act, with damaging his own photographic apparatus on January 15, 1889, with the intent to injure others. The information was laid by Carl Gerstenkorn, who was charged by George with stealing a document. According to the statement by counsel, George, whose studio, it was alleged, had been broken into and some lenses removed and goods damaged, bad told the police that he suspected Gerstenkorn. George saw Gerstenkorn in October, some time after the latter bad returned from the Chathams, and asked him to give evidence as to the damage, but Gerstenkorn said he knew nothing. George again saw him and asked him to give evidence against Manning and Meers, but Gerstenkorn repeated that he knew nothing, but waited to see if George would commit himself. George offered to write the terms, and after some parleying wrote an acknowledgment that he himself had done the damage in the studio. They went to see Mr Thompson, when Gerstenkorn snatched the paper and ran off with it. George followed, and the police coming up both went to the station, where Geerge called attention to the fact that when the paper was held up to the light writing appeared on the other side to the effect that the first-men-tioned writing was written at the dictation of Gerstenkorn, and George could not vouch for it. The theory of prosecution is that George’s admisson was the truth with the view of getting lying evidence from Gerstenkorn; while that of the defence is that the admission was falsely made to get information from Gerstenkorn. The snatched paper is what the latter is charged with stealing. It has written on the face ®f it —“ I hereby acknowledge that I myself destroyed my own property in studio in January of last year, and wilfully threw suspicion on Mr Gerstenkorn gand others.—Eden George.” Upon the back, in ink which becomes visible on being exposed to the light, was: —“ Whatever is written upon the other side is written at the dictation of Carl Gerstenkorn- * ! ■* cannot vouch for it. ' OTlll ',_ Eden George.

n t e arae of his evidence GerstensaidOn the 28th September he came to see me at the Gladstone Hotel, and opened the subject of my earning £75, and my being quite safe. After saying he would make me safer still he went away. He came the next night, and produced a newspaper. He said, “ You are a friend ef Manning’s. If you like to go to his premises in a friendly way, and plant it somewhere you shall have £75.” He said that if the newpaper were found there when the police were put on with a search warrant that would be evidence. I would not do it. Then he proposed t® write something, but I would not leave the room. He asked me why, and I said he might plant the newspaper in my room and give me away. When Detective O’Connor came into my room he looked for a newspaper. I found out afterwards this was connected with some pieces cut out found amongst the

wreck. A t another interview in the evening George told me I was to say that Manning, Meers, and myself went in the back window; that Manning had destroyed the lenses, and taken them and put them in the Avon. Meers had done all the damage to the seats with the knife. I had destroyed the negatives with a diamond. I said, “ Its seems very nice, but it is hard lines for me to say a thing I have not done.” I told him 1 could not possibly see my way to assist him in any way. Next day He said he would not rest until he bad accomplished the crushing of Meers and Manning, and that he would give me any security in writing.; I said the only security he coald give; was to admit that he did it himself, which was the truth. He said he would think the matter over. He came again the next morning about 8.30 a.m., and asked me to get pen and; ink, and he would write something. Before he wrote anyihing he showed me a memo., in which he said he would not prosecute me. I said that was nothing at all; that was just a trap to entrap me. He then showed me what was on the back. I said, “ Ah, that’s better. That is something like a security.” He then took a fresh piece of paper out of his pocket aud copied what was or the back of the other on to it. H© put it in an envelope, and said he would carry it down to Thompson. I said I would like to see it carried down to Thompson to hold as security. He asked me to sign my name with his on the envelope and I did so. I then put it in my pocket. He asked what I meant and said, “ You are not going to keep it, Gerstenkorn ? ” I told him I would not keep it but I would put it iu the hands of the police after I had had my breakfast. He said his position depended upon that letter, and it mustn’t go into the bands of the police but 1 said it was the means of clearing my character. He said if I made use of it against him he would shoot me; but I was not the least bit afraid, Oct. 16.

The case against Eden George was continued to-day. The evidence for the prosecution was concluded. Mr Stringer, for the defence, contended that the whole evidence came from a pack of discharged employers of Mr George. Mr George himself gave evidence, denying that he asked Gerstenkorn to trump up a charge o having damaged the studio against Manning and Meers. The case was adjourned till to-morrow.