INDICTMENT BAD.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20101, 3 December 1930, Page 6

INDICTMENT BAD.

CASE THROWN OUT

C?BESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) NELSON, December 2. In his address to tho Grand Jury at tho Supremo Court to-day, Mr Justice Keed, referring to a charge of alleged theft against Thomas Edward Bird,,,said accused was secretary of tho Golden Bay Cement Company Industrial Union of Workers at a salary of 7s 6d per week, and was charged with the theft of various sums of money. His Honour went on to say that the general count was bad, as it was laid down in tho English Act that it was necessary to show that some specific sum of money must bo alleged to have been received from some specific individual, or company, on some specific date, requiring it to bo paid to soma specific person or company. This had not been shown. The indictment was bad, and it would be the duty of the jury to return "No bill." It was no fault of tho person drawing up the indictment that it was bad, as on depositions his Honour could not see how the charge could have been laid in any other way. His Honour added that the management of the Union seemed to have been shockingly slack. No records of any sort kept. It was not shown that if there was any deficiency it was due to the act of accused. Tho Union could not expect its books to bo kept in a proper manner for 7s 6d a week.

At his Honour's suggestion a "No bill" was returned, and Bird was discharged.