CRICK-WILLIS JURY INQUIRY.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXX, Issue 8698, 5 January 1907, Page 2

CRICK-WILLIS JURY INQUIRY.

Per Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. Sydney, January 4. The commission further examined the sheriff's officers. Those in -charge of the jury-room declared that their conduct in the jury-room was always regular. They were never in the room longer than, necessary in the performance of their duty excepting on ono occasion when, they were half an hour listening to the reminiscences of one of the jurymen. They never discussed the case with jurors or divulged anything. They denied listening at the door. One officer stated that on several occasions the jury discussed the case within hearing of the officials. Felton, sheriff’s supervising officer, gave similar evidence. Ho was also once or twice with defendants, but the case was never mentioned between them. The officers did their duty properly. He emphatically denied the statement that the sheriff asked him to ascertain the opinion of the jury. He mentioned that, with other officers he was present in the juryroom on the special invitation of the jury when tho foreman received a birthday presentation from tbb other jurors.

The commissioner’s comment on the incident was that the officers had no right there. They wandered in and out of tho jury-room as if it was part of the courthouse. They told witness that would do for tho present. Tho officer in charge of defendants deposed that they never discussed tho case with defendants. After tiro trial he accidentally met Crick’s brother in a refreshment room and they had dinner together. Crick’s brother paid for the dinners.

Mr Haynes, editor of the Newsletter, at his own request gave evidence regarding an article published in tho Newsletter Ho got his information for tho article from the foreman of tho jury and reporters. Ho further alleged that ho had been told that a newsagent was approached by an officer and asked for a hundred and fifty pounds to square the jury. Crick, at his own request gave evidence and deposed tho tho sheriff’s officers were utter strangers to him. Ho knew that special precautions were being taken in tho case and ho was most circumspect. Ho scrupulously refrained from mentioning tiie case to tho officers and they never mentioned it to him. Ho did not know a single juror. Tho sheriff recalled, said he received special instructions from the AttorneyGeneral to prevent all possible interference with tho jury and these instructions were carried out. Further hearing was adjourned to Thursday. Sydney, January 5. The Commission examined a news agent named Hitching, who deposed that what he told Haynes was that he had been approached in connection with squaring a ease of his own three years ago. He had not been approached in the Crick-Willis ease.

Haynes, recalled, said when he spoke of money being sought to square the jury he had not referred specially to the present case but to jury-squaring in general.