THE PAGET TRIAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8469, 22 June 1907, Page 5

THE PAGET TRIAL.

MR WILFORD AND [THE JURY. By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON, June 21. Justices Cooper and Button had to deal with an unusual matter in the Supreme Court to-day. When Claude Paget was found guilty of murder a few weeks ago, his counsel, Mr T. M. Wilford, after the Court adjourned, made some remarks to the jurymen about their verdict. Action was subsequently taken, and a rule nisi obtained calling on Mr T. M Wilford to justify his conduct. When counsel moved, to-day, to make this rule absolute. Mr Wilford, who appeared unrobed, said he wished to repeat to their Honours the expressions of regret he had already tendered to the jurymen by letter. He was at the time highly overwrought, and forgot himself. He was convinced that Paget did not know what he had done. Mr Justice Cooper said that it was important that juries should not be interfered with in any way. He had noticed that in the later stages of the Paget trial Mr Wilford was' in an extreme state of nervous tension. If this condition had not obtained, this matter would not have the Court. The Court, therefore, considered it would be sufficient if it ordered Mr Wilford to pay the costs of proceedings without inflicting further penalty on him.