THE SPIRITUALISM CASE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4747, 14 June 1894, Page 2

THE SPIRITUALISM CASE.

Accused Discharged,.

Yesterday morning, the trial of James and Priscilla Hackett for eonspiring to defraud by • obtaining money under the false pretences of producing so-called spiritualistic phenomena was continued. Tho case for tho Crown having closed, evidenco was called for tho defence.

Aftor the addresses of counsel and His Honor's summing-up, the jury retired at a quarter past 3 o'clock. At a quarter to 6 His Honor sent for them, when the foreman said they had not agreed on all tho counts. Asked as to what they agreed on ho replied that there was no conspiracy between the malo and femalo prisoners.

" What do you say about hen ?" queried His Honor. " Sho is innocent," Then you discharge her ? Yes.

•Tho Foreman further stated that as to the male person they disagreed, and he did not think there was any probability of poming to a, decision, His Honor said that in his opinion i this was a casein which there need not be a second trial,

Mr Chapman said he did not propose to offer any ovidenco,again, His Honor expressed tho opinion that this case was one of puro deception, but, he added, lie was not fa'ying tlio case, Tho Judge then said, addressing the prisoner: You have run some risk, and my advice to you is either to return to your own country, Australia, or abstain from any such practices in future. I hope the Legislature will put the law where it should be, and have such cases put under tho Police Offences Act, whore thoy should be. Then we should not have them here, but while they are under tho Supremo Court we shall, You aro discharged, Tho femalo prisoner, on leaving tho dock before her brother, took an affeotioimto farewell of him, fllitl p)i regaining his liberty quite a number of friends and sympathisers mothiiri outside the-Court and congratulated him on the result. Neither of the counsel forthe accused were present. The Court sits again at 10 this morning.—N.Z. Times