UNUSUAL CASE

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20492, 7 May 1938, Page 8

UNUSUAL CASE

DIRECTIONS TO JURY ACCUBED’B CHANGED PLEA FORMAL VERDICT OF GUILTY The unusual circumstance of a judge directing a jury to find a prisoner not guilty on two counts of hit indictment and guilty on the third and fourth arose in the Supeme Court, Hamilton yesterday afternoon, in the case of Henry Leonard Slight (47), labourer, of Te Aroha, who was charged with forging the endorsement to a cheque for £lO 16s Bd. There were four counts in the indictment: That accused at Frankton on February 3, 1938, forged the endorsement to a cheque signed by A. McDonald and drawn on the Bank of Australiasia, Auckland; that on the same day he uttered the cheque by causing Cyril Lansdowne Nicholls to cash it; that he obtained £lO JGs 2d from Nicholls by falsely representing that he was the payee and that he committed theft by failing to account to A. McDonald for the proceeds. Arraigned before lunch, accused pleaded not guilty and a Jury was empanelled. after which the adjournment was taken before hearing evidence. On the resumption of the session, Mr. J. R- Fitz-Gerald, for the Crown, intimated that he would call no evidence in respect to the first two counts. Mr. J. F. Strang, for accused, then intimated that accused wished to alter his plea to one of guilty on the count* of false pretences and theft. Upon this plea being accepted by the Crown, His Honour, Sir Michael Myers informed the jury that a formal verdict would be required of them. "I direct you, gentlemen, to And accused not guilty on the first two counts and guilty on the third and fourth," said His Honour. A verdict on these lines was returned by the jury without leaving the box and accused was remanded for sentence until Tuesday next.