AN UNUSUAL POSITION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 292, 13 May 1914, Page 2

AN UNUSUAL POSITION.

A SHORTAGE OF COMMON JURORS.

By Telegraph—Press Association.

Christeharch, Tuesday. A curious and noTel legal position [ arose at the current criminal sessions. The jury empanelled to try one ca«e had retired and a second was called. When the jury was bei»g empanelled for this Mr. Macaesey, Grown Prosecutor, ordered three jurore to stand aside, and accused ehallengci giz. Eleven jurors lad 'by this time been empanelled, when it was discovered that the jury panel was exhausted, owing to an insufficient number of jurors having been summoned for the sessions. In reply to a question from Mr. Justice Denniston as to what wag proposed to be done, Mr. Macassey replied, "I shall pray a tales, your Honor." His Honor then directed the doors of the Court to be locked for the purpose of selectinj; the required juror from the audience'. This is a most rare course to be pursued, and was avoided in this instance by the jury in tie first case returning at that,instant. Tie requisite juror was then empanelled and the case proceeded.

At New Plymouth a few years ag-o the "tales" had to be resorted to, there being no timely arrival of the first jurv, and one of the people from the body oi the court was swota in.