CHARGE OF PERJURY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 January 1939, Page 4

CHARGE OF PERJURY

STRONG PROTEST MADE BY COUNSEL MISTAKE AT BANKRUPTCY HEARING. ACCUSED MAN REMANDED. , (By Telegraph—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, January 11. When Roy Stanley Johnston, Avho was arrested at Wellington on January 4, appeared before Mr H. A. Young, 5. in the Magistrate’s Court this morning, to answer a charge of perjury in judicial proceedings, his counsel, Mr C. S. Thomas, entered a strong protest against the prosecution. It was alleged that on his examination on oath in bankruptcy before the Official Assignee at Christchurch on September 15, Johnston falsely swore that a sum of £250 paid as a deposit in the purchase of premises was received from J. H. Leeming, Sydney, whereas in truth, the sum was received from William Anderson, Dunedin. In asking for a week’s remand, Detective-Ser-geant Sinclair said that two witnesses would be out of town until January 26.

“This is an extraordinary prosecution,” said Mr Thomas. During his examination by the Official Assignee, Johnston was asked whence he had received certain money paid as a deposit on property, said Mr Thomas. No particular attention was paid to the question, Johnston answering that he received it from Leeming. After the meeting, he was not quite sure and, looking the matter up in his accounts, discovered that he had actually received it from Anderson in a transaction in which Leeming had, however, been also involved. After consulting his solicitor, Johnston went, on the day after the creditors’ meeting, to' the Official Assignee and told him that he had made a mistake. Mr Thomas added that at the Official Assignee’s suggestion, Johnson made an affidavit correcting it.

“Now, several months later,” Mr Thomas continued, “Johnston is arrested in Wellington and brought here, at an expense he can ill afford, only to be told that the gentleman who instituted the proceedings is away on holiday, and will not be back until January 26.” The detectice-sergeant said the prosecution had been authorised -by the Solicitor-General. Accused was remanded to January 30, bail being renewed.