JUDGE AND JURY.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 June 1916, Page 2

JUDGE AND JURY.

INCIDENT AT NAPIER, By Telegraph.—Press Association. Napier, June 0. Short but caustic comment was made by the Chief Justice, Sir Robert Stout, at the Napier Supreme Court yesterday upon the verdict of the jury in respect to .tfie ease of a youth named Stephen Percy Barrett, charged with breaking and entering the residence of Mr. Sam Wood, Colenso Hill. After the evidence had been heard, his Honor summed up strongly against the prisoner. Were the jury to return a verdict of "not guilty," said his honor, they would be acquitting a man who had practically declared himself guilty. The jury retired and within half an hour returned with a verdict of "not guilty." , The foreman: I would like to explain, your Honor, that the jury's verdict has! been based on the unreliability of statements of the accused. His Honor (interrupting):' I am not going to argue with you. This is the second occasion on which a Napier jury has brought '.n a verdict of "not guilty" when an admission of guilt has been made by the accused and the police evidence was conclusive, The verdict was tantamount to accusing police officers of perjury.