HELP FOR ACCUSED

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 93, 6 May 1937, Page 3

HELP FOR ACCUSED

-Press Assoctation.l

Jurors Pay Part Cost of Prosecution

(B? Telecrapn-

WELLINGTON, Last Night. After convicting a man in the Supreme Court to-day of breaking, entef ing and theft the jurors subscribed a part of the costs of the prosecution which he had been ordered to pay. Mr. Justice Ostler had ,made payment of, costs a condition of his release on probation. The coiirt officials aecepted the money. The action of the jurors is . unprecedented as far as can be readily aseertained in Wellington. Accused was Ronald Morris ChUmbers, aged 26, a mechanic, chargei with breaking and . entering by night the warehouso of the Tui Bottling Compauy, and «0mmitting theft therein. The evidence showed that "hccused waited outside tho store while his conipanions entered, one of the latter- beihg empioycd !in the store. They colleeted a sack of bottled beer, which they were in tho aet oi' romoving when caught by the police. Counsel said accuscd had assumed one of his coiiipanions had authority to enter the store. He had no idea the key used had been cut illegally. The judge ordered the accused to pay the costs of the prosecution, which would not have been incurred had he p^eaded guilty. The costs were £17 18s, to be paid at , the rate of lUs iveekly. The case being the last on the ealendar, the jurors- were then paid their feea and after receiving them they left behind £2 18s contributed in vatious sumg towards 'the costs of tho prosecution.