JURY DISAGREES

Evening Star, Issue 24332, 22 October 1942, Page 6

JURY DISAGREES

MOULIN STANDS NEW TRIAL Tile jury, alter a hours’ retirement yesterday, failed to agree on u verdict in the charge against William Thomas Moulin of having attempted to commit an unnatural offence on a male, and, secondly, of having indecently assaulted a male. The Crown I'rosecutor, Mr I'. H. Adams, applied for a new trial. This was ordered by Mr Justice Kennedy, and began late in the afternoon, the case being opened afresh and formal evidence taken. Mr C. J. L. White again represented the accused. 'Flic taking of evidence, which was on the lines heard ai the lirst trial, was continued this morning. No evidence was called for ihe defence. In l the course of his address to the jury Mr Adams, referring to the methods adopted by the police in endeavouring to catch (he ai-cu-ed in ihe act, -aid that whatever the eonr-c taken it was in the light of their primary duly to delect and bring lo book the man who apparently sought lo commit a crime of Ihe nature of ihe present one. Whatever it was the police had told Ihe boy lo do, ho had evidently failed to anprcciale the warning not lo aid or abet in any way, otherwise he would nol have been subject, to the treatment he had snlVered. He could have got away or prevented ihe act in sonic other way. Mr White, in his address, referred to the Crown Prosecutor's “al tempt lo whitewash the police.” Hut, said counsel, if the youth’s evidence was I rue’ the crime had undoubtedly been brought, about almost entirely by lhe action of Hie police. The youth had had sense enough to report lo Ihe police Ids first meeting with Moulin, and had it not been for Ihe suggestions of I lie detectives lie would no doubt have failed lo keep the second appointment. His Honour, in addressing the jury, said (dial they had heard some picturesque language about bailing a trap for ihe accused, but if Hie boy’s statement was true Hie meeting between them had been asked for by Hie accused. It had been lie who had sought the meeting, it might occur to them that the police were for the general prolection of all, and that they had a duly to see that crime was prevented and Hie criminal detected. The police could have told the hoy nol to meet tlie accused again, but they had no doubt deemed it (heir duty, amt a proper thing, to do. what (.hey did. The detectives had told the boy to meet the accused, but not lo encourage liim. In evidence the boy had stated that the police had (old him lo go and do what accused wauled him to do.‘but not. to encourage or help him. The jury retired at 1.5 p.nf.