MUTILATED JURY LIST

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2117, 7 April 1914, Page 6

MUTILATED JURY LIST

PROBING THE CAUSE

REPUTABLE NAMES STRUCK OFF WARM PROCEEDINGS. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Auckland, April 6. . The revision of jury lists has becomo i vexed''Question with Mr. Kettle, j.M v and tho Justices who havo been iittiiig with him. for that purpose. Tho' irst sitting was held'on Friday last, ind was adjourned to enable Sub-In-ipector Johnston, who his been entrustid with the compilation of tho,list, to produce the original copy in addition to , ;ho revised one. On Saturday morning Ur. Kettle- went further into tho riiat;er, and then adjourned tho sitting till :o-day to enable Chief Detective tl'Miihpn to appear, the detectives havlig been entrusted by tho sub : insnector ,vith tho purging of both tho original ind tho revised lists. When the Court issembled this morning Chief Deteetivo Sl'Mahon was in attendanco with some aaif-dozeii detective's. . "I understand that you declined to ippear before this Court on Saturday ?' Said Mr. Kettle to Chief Detective U'Mahon. Chief Detective-M'Mahon:,Yes, your Worship. I was waiting for . orders from my superior officer. '•■ Mr. Kettle: It was reported to .mo' that you declined to appear. : Chief Deteetivo M'Ji'ahon: I was also busy in the Lower Court. ' ' , , ; Mr. Kettle: Why did you not come up and tellus? Wo were kept waiting here 'for a- considerable time. . Chief Detective M'Mahon: I had no intention of. delaying the Court. ! Mr. Kettle: It was very, inconvenient For us. ' . ' , ■„■■■. , Sub-Inspector Johnston (recalled) stated again that ho could not say from his own knowledge how the names on the list were obtained..- : His WorsDip produced a list of sixteen names of Parnell residents who had boon struck off tho roll, and asked i;he sub-inspector if he could say by whom they had been struck oif, by whose authority, and why. < Sub-Jnspector Johnston: I have told your Worship twice already that I can- , not. say'. ' • ■ . . : Mr. Kettle: There are people here whoso reputations are beyond question, nnd who have been struck off though they, ought to be on the list. I suppose .'it amounts to this: that these lists have been tampered with and mutilated by some person or persons unknown. ' Sub-Inspector Johnston:' Well, you ban put it that way if you like.. • ' ' Mr. Kettle: You aro evading the question. Where are the two constables ivho prepared tho revised list ? ;'.• Sub-Inspector Johnston: I can , get them down in a few-minutes. . • : - Mr. Kettle: But why are they- not hero?' I must adjourn this sitting to , jeiiable the 'two constables to appear. It ;is impossible for us to certify to tho 'list as it is at present. '. - "'■"'■ , ; Chief Detective..M'Mahon: Couldn't 'your Worship hear us? ' '" . ' i-^ifcjr"-.Kettle:/. No, you-'ro: not 'before me SS'cially. I havo asked tho, sub-inspec-itor, to bring evidence regarding the mutilation of this list. ; Chief Detective M'Mahon: We can do [so. . . . L The sub-inspector stated that it would be presumption on his. part to in-terfere--with the detectives who wero [responsible to the superintendent. |"i Mr; 'Kettle:'..' Th- warrant" has. been {directed to you, and you are the responsible ■ officer. - You can!t delegate your jpowors to ; others. '■ ■ . i;- Sub-Inspector. Johnston: I delegated .Viy 'powers-because J know nothing pout' the people; ■ . ■*'■'■',' '.•■".'./ ,;..! Mr'.;Kettle: The.question is whether 'cho revision shall be made by the Court 'or by'a lot 'of unauthorised person's. ' ! : .Chief Detective M'Mahon then gave [evidenced Ho stated that names had' ; been struck off bythe detectives where t thp person happened to be unsuitable [by his associations, repute, or convicTμ. "■'■': . {The sitting was adjourned till Wcdcesday. ~ ;■;. j., ' : ...