THE ALLEGED EXTORTION CASE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1960, 3 October 1888, Page 2

THE ALLEGED EXTORTION CASE

At the Supreme Court, Ohvlstohurch, yesterday, Robert Wooda was indicted oharged with having demanded with menaces certain ohaitels from Mary Lookhead In September, and was also indioted m regard to a similar offence alleged to have been committed In June,

The particulars of the case have been fully reported m these columns, when the accused was before the local R.M. Oourt. The case foe the Grown having been heard, Mr Joynt, who appeared for the prisoner, submitted that the letter did not contain menaces within the meaning of the statute. Unless the objeot of Woods was to get somebody's else's property, the letter did not come within the Aoti Woodi honestly believed the rings to be his own. Mr Martin submitted that it was a matter for the Jury to say whether or not the prisoner made the demand with reason* able and probable cause. When prisoner sent the rings and note, these brcatne the absolute property of Miss Lamble. His Honor left the oase to the Jury. Mr Joynt addressed the Jary, His Honor Bummed up. i The Jury retired, and, after an interval of two hours and a half, returned into Court. The Foreman said the Jury could not oome to a decision ; the majority were m favor of %n acquittal. His Honor said the law did not allow him to pooept a verdict of lesa than the whole. The Jury again retired.

After an abaenoe of three-quarters of an hoar they were seat for by His Honor, when the Foreman informed him that there was no chance of their coming to an agreement.

His Honor Bent them back, and ordered refreshments to be served to them, as they had been without food since breakfast.

At 9.45 p.m. the Jury returned onoe more, aud the Foreman announced that they had agreed to acquit the prisoner.