NOT GUILTY

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 272, 11 August 1921, Page 8

NOT GUILTY

CASE AGAINST WHARF TIME-KEEPERS CHURCHILL AND CHISHOLM DISCHARGED Yesterday in the Supreme Court, the jury in the case of George Churchill and Alexander Joseph Chisholm, employees of the Union Steam Ship Company, who were cliargod with conspiracy to defraud, returned a verdict of not guilty after a short retirement. The charges related to a sum of £165 6s. 10d., said to have been obtained between September 7, 1920, and February 23, 1921. Mr. Justice Reed was on the bench. Mr. I’. S. K. Macassey was Crown Prosecutor, Mr. H. O’Leary appeared for Cliurchi.il, and Mr. A. B. Sievwright for Chisholm. Great public interest had been shown in the trial since its beginning on Monday morning. , His Honour summed up yesterday morning. He urged' upon, the jury the necessity for. carefully weighing the evidence, and to convict if -it were satisfied that there had been Haud. The jury, on its return, intimated that “lack of evidence” liad caused it to arrive at its conclusion. The prisoners were discharged accordingly. CHARGES AGAINST ANDREW TAYLOR. Similar charges to those made in tho previous cases were laid against Andrew Gibson Taylor, a middle aged man alto a head time-keeper in the employ of the Union Steam Ship Company. It wn« alleged that between September 1, 1920, j xfnrrh o 19'1. ho conspired with rertain "ions unknown to defraud the Union Steam Ship Company of the sum S n £lVl8 a s. Id. Mr P. S. K Macassey was Crown Prosecutor and Air. H. 1■ O’Learv appeared for the prisoner. Ibis case, also, related to time-sheets. Evidence was given on tho lirnsof that adduced in the Court belou During The day Captain Walton (marine superintendent for the company at Wellington). Cecil Smythe, and W. Harms head labour foreman) gave evidence The hearing will be continued at 10 £..ni. to-day. _