JUDGE’S ORDER

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 17 October 1942, Page 3

JUDGE’S ORDER

MAN CREED OF MURDER CHARGE London, Sept. 23. In a case said to be without precedent. a labourer charged with the murder of a woman in Soho left the dock at Old Bailey to-day free without a word having been said by his counsel or himself in his defence. The trial judge, who read the depositions at the week-end. said that a cigarette stub and two empty beer bottles were found in the woman’s flat. The labourer knew the woman as Irish Mary, and visited her from time to time ‘‘Where is the evidence that the cigarette stub was not left on one of those visits?” the judge asked "Regarding fingerprints found on bottles, there is evidence that the accused handled the bottles, but there is no evidence about when he did so.” To the Crown prosecutor the judge remarked that there was no evidence to show that the accused was at the woman's flat on the night of the murder. and asked: “Is that right?” The Crown prosecutor agreed that it was, and then said that the Crown had no evidence to offer on that point. The judge then told the jury that it must acquit the accused.