The Crown v. L. H. (1982)

The Court of Chronological Offences · Transcript of proceedings[1982] SZCO 18

Appearances

• accused: L. H.
• prosecutor: The Ministry of Chronology

Proceedings

The court sat at ten. The Clerk called the case and counsel announced their appearances.

The Clerk read the charge, possession of an unyear record (a wine label), without pronouncing the year concerned, as the practice of the court is. The accused pleaded not guilty. The Ministry's counsel opened. The charge was one of possession; the possession would be proved by the inspector; the year would not be spoken.

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

An inspector of the Ministry of Chronology took the oath.

Q. You seized the item? A. I received it. The Ministry does not seize; it receives. Q. And it is now? A. In the Sealed Archive, under a number I am not at liberty to give. Q. Did you examine it? A. Sufficiently to know what it was and not sufficiently to know what it said.

Cross-examined. Q. The accused surrendered the item without resistance? A. He did. Q. He said he had meant to surrender it? A. He said so. Q. Does the Ministry give any weight to that? A. The Ministry gives weight to what it receives and when.

Witness for the defence: a neighbour of the parties

A neighbour of the parties, sworn, examined by counsel for the defence.

Q. You know the defendant's side of the matter? A. I know both sides and I have kept out of it until today.

Cross-examined. Q. You did not read the item? A. I did not. Q. Then you cannot say what year it bore? A. I can say that the inspector said what it bore, and that I did not ask him to say it twice.

Witness for the defence: the sexton

The sexton was called for the defence and sworn.

Q. What is the accused's character? A. As good as mine. Q. That is for the court to judge. A. Then as good as the court's.

Cross-examined. Q. You saw something folded. A. Yes. Q. It might have been a letter? A. It might. Q. Or a bill? A. It might have been anything. That is why I did not look.

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 resumed. The judgment as delivered, and as entered in the Reports:

Concerning possession of an unyear record (a wine label). Ruling: 15 months and forfeiture.

Costs

Costs of the prosecution against the accused. The court rose at ten in the forenoon.