REGRETTABLE INCIDENT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4446, 1 May 1930, Page 2

REGRETTABLE INCIDENT.

-) I RYAI.EN AND WITNESSES. NEW TRIAL ORDERED. Dunedin, April 30. \\ hen a charge of sheep-stealing ag.iinsL Gilbert \\ illiam Lewis was ii-unied at the Supreme Court, iVlr. .'.dams, the (Crown Prosecutor, r-aid: "1 have been informed that last night, when the Court rose, the Hu email of the jury aud one juryman got into company with two witnesses for the defence, and went with them to a hotel liar, where they were for some time in conversation. -. Key were seen there by detectives.-”

Counsel applied lo either have the jury discharged or for the ease i". continue with the ten remaining jurymen. Detective Sneddon stated that he ■saw the foreman of the jury drinking with two defence witnesses. An--1,1 her juryman was present, lie did not hear what was said.

AL-. Justice Kennedy said that it Was a regrettable incident and regrettable for the accused, because there must be a new trial, with the no Lort min toJy attendant expense and inconvenience. lie ordered the Oi.se barge of the jury without a verdict, and directed that a new jury be empanelled next Monday. I he -Judge added that as the jurymen hud not been heard, he would take ihe view that their conduct was due to a misapprehension of I heir duties.