The Crown v. U. W. (1981)

The Court of Chronological Offences · Transcript of proceedings[1981] SZCO 7

Appearances

• accused: U. W.
• prosecutor: The Ministry of Chronology

Proceedings

The case was called at ten. The tape was started.

The Clerk read the charge under the Chronological Offences Act: assertion of the unyear in print. The accused, who is named in the record by initials only, pleaded not guilty. Counsel for the Ministry opened shortly. The Ministry did not propose to produce the exhibit in open court, and the judge said that the court did not expect it.

Witness for the prosecution: an inspector of the Ministry of Chronology

An inspector of the Ministry of Chronology took the oath.

Q. You are an inspector of the Ministry of Chronology? A. I am. Q. Tell the court what you found. A. An item of the kind described in the charge. I did not read it. I entered it and sealed it. Q. Did you observe a year upon it? A. I observed that it bore a year which is not a year. I did not pronounce it and I shall not.

Cross-examined. Q. You did not examine the item closely? A. I examined it as the regulations require and no further. Q. Then you cannot say what it is? A. I can say what it is. I cannot say what it says. The Act is satisfied with the first.

Witness for the prosecution: a woman who keeps the shop opposite

A woman who keeps the shop opposite was sworn and examined.

Q. Where were you? A. I was at my work. I heard a noise and went to the door. Q. Did you see anything in the accused's hands? A. Something folded. I did not look. Q. Did the accused say anything? A. He said it was his grandfather's. He did not say what it was.

Cross-examined. Q. The accused told you it was his grandfather's? A. He did. Q. Did you believe him? A. I had no reason not to. Q. And no reason to? A. That is so.

Submissions

Counsel for the Ministry submitted that possession was proved by the inspector and that nothing more was required under the Act. Counsel for the accused submitted that the item had not been produced. The judge observed that it never is, and retired.

Judgment

The court returned at the rising of the court. The judgment was read and is entered in the Law Reports as follows.

Concerning assertion of the unyear in print. Ruling: 9 months.

Costs

The accused to pay the costs of the prosecution, or in default a further 2 weeks. The parties left by separate doors and the court rose.