THE LEFT IT TO THE JURY.

Taihape Daily Times, 20 August 1919, Page 2

THE LEFT IT TO THE JURY.

The twelve mell"Who'conlprised the jury at the sitting of the Supreme ‘Court at Chris-tehureh was sent back to reconsider their verdict. The case was peculiar, in that two men and a, woman were jointly eliarged with stealing -2. Emilalbug containing £4O 13/, and sepal'a'L«-15' charged xvii}: receiving stolen goods. The Judge summed up _gtx'ollg‘l;.’ ageixist :aec;:lz:sed, and the jur:-y) after three-quarters of an hour re--turned x-.'il'!l :1 ).'er(l3e‘; ggziiust the two accused 'of guilty on all charges. L.‘oun.<.el for Ozzu oi‘ the accused 9.:-'.l:e:l if a. person (,'!)‘'.?:(1 be found g::il‘r_y of both stezi‘.-ing' sud receiving" .'-.:: :_~.~.~~;-iclo. The other counsel said the inconsisteiiey of the verdict showed the j::r_v had no: Vproperly considered the matter.. Mr .Tn:s:iee llo:'dl‘.a9.'ll: “If you ._-,e-_slre it, I will send the ;';ury back. What do you say?” “It is not IIL‘COSS{II'y fr‘-‘ 511-) to say. You are the presiding judge.” The. Judge :Id(lress=e(l the jury: ‘‘Per—haps you had better" formtzlly go back and reconsider your verdict.” After less than a. minute’§ retirement, the jury returned with a verdict of guilty -of theft, but not guilty on the counts of receiving stolen goods.