THE WILLIS CRICK CASE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXX, Issue 8697, 4 January 1907, Page 4

THE WILLIS CRICK CASE.

' How the Jury Deaerated,

Press Association —Copy right. Received January i, 12.3 a.m.

Sydney, Last Night.

The foreman of the jury, further examined, stated that things that occurred in the jury room were known outside days before the jury got out. He gave an instance of this. Other complaints were, J.lrs Willis and the wife cf a juror in the body of the hall kept laughing at the jury and distracted their attention; that one of the sheriff’s officers told a juryman that Willis was an Orangeman and his wife a Catholic. The foreman also had been informed that two of the sheriff’s officers had dinner with Crick s brother the day the trial ended. Asked why the jury did not complain of these matters, witness said the jury discussed them and decided to inform the sheriff, but did not because they regarded the whole trial as a farce.

Of the other two jurymen examined one endorsed the foreman’s statement, and the other had no fault to find, but considered the trial had been properly conducted. One of the sheriff’s officers under examination, admitted that he and two otherofficers were present with the jury one night for three-quarters of an hour while one of the jurymen related how he had sowed his wild oats. At no time during the visit ,was any reference made te the facts of the case.