POLICE SCANDAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1463, 25 May 1905, Page 2

POLICE SCANDAL.

'(Per, Press "Association/) Dunedin, last night. The first of the cases in connection with police scandal come on to-day when James McDonald and Thos. Moses were charged with breaking and entering the D. 1.0. warehouse, and stealing a number of articles. A second count charged them with stealing goods, and a third with receiving, knowing the goods to have been stolen. Both the accused pleaded guilty to receiving, but the Crown Prosecutor would not accept the plea, and after legal argument as to whether they could be tried I for stealing, when they admitted receiving only, Mr Praser, Crown Prosecutor,opened I his case and called evidence identifying the goods. Neither Messrs Sim nor Hanlon, who appeared for the accused, called evidence, but Mr Sim said that Moses desired to make a statement. Moses then I said he received the goods from Henry I Beddington, the night watchman. He never entered the D.1.C., nor did he steal anything from there. Counsel then addressed the jury. In summing up Mr Justice Williams said the Crown Prosecutor was justified in proceeding with the major count, if only to see if it was possible to got at the real truth of the matter. The jury after four hours’ retirement were unatjle to agree and were discharged. The Crown Prosecutor said he would ask for a re-trial in the morning and probably call Beddington as a witness. The ; Court then adjourned.