THE WORTHINGTON CASE

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 56, 30 November 1921, Page 5

THE WORTHINGTON CASE

JURY RETURNS VERDICT OF NOT GUILTY.

Melbourne, November 29. On the third trial of John Morgan Worthington, Sergeant-at-Arms in tho Legislative Assembly of Victoria, for corruptly taking money, the jury returned a verdict of not guilty. Press AS [Tho charge, under section. 184 of tho Crimes Act, 1915, was that on May 1J Worthington "corruptly did take from Frederick William Strack certain money, to wit, the sum of 41750, on account of helping the said Frederick William Strack to certain property, to wit, a number of war bonds which had been stolen.” Bonds disappeared on March 28 from the house of Dlr. Rees George in Storev Street, Parkvillo and it was alleged that from April 22 Worthington negotiated with Strack (the deputy-regis-trar of Commonwealth inscribed stock) with regard to returning them. There were two trials, in tho first of which the jury failed to agree. In the second Worthington was found guilty, but tho Tud> r o postponed sentence pending tho hearing of an appeal, holding tho opinion that there were important questions to be argued both under section 184 and as to tho sufficiency of evidence io support tho verdict. For Worthington, who was allowed hail, there were lodged, an application for leave to appeal against conviction, nnd an appeal against conviction. "Wo think,” said Dlr. Justice Cusson, in delivering the judgment of the Court of Criminal Appeal, "that the appeal should be allowed, and a new trial ordered.” The case caused a great sensation in Dlclbourne.]