STARCHFIELD ACQUITTED.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume LXXII, Issue 4384, 3 April 1914, Page 2

STARCHFIELD ACQUITTED.

WITNESSES' EVIDENCE CONFLICTING London, April 1. In the Starchfield trial, the ease for the Crown rests on the testimony of three wit* nossps as to identification. The evidence is conflicting.' The witness, White, said he noticed a huskiness in Starohfield's voice in the police court reminding him of huskiness in the man whom he heard talking to tho deceased boy at Camden station. Wbsn the Crown case closed. Mr Justice | Atkin remarked that the evidence against Starchfield depended entirely on idenlifica* tion by three witnesses, two of whom bad never seen Starchfield before. He suggested that it' was not safe to pillow the oase to go to the jury, though there was no imputa tion against the witnesses. The prosecutor, Mr Bodkin, X.C„ agreed to discontinue the case. A verdict was returned of "Not guilty' Mr Justice Aitken remarked that the Coroner had violated the principle upon which the inquiry should be conducted. A large crowd cheered Starchfield on his acquittal, ,