SPOKE TO JURYMAN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 33, 9 February 1939, Page 14

SPOKE TO JURYMAN.

QUESTION IN COURT. ASSI/RANTK 15V DKFEXDAXT. (From Our I'orreeponJent.) HAMILTON. Wednesday. The proceedings in a civil claim being le.ird in the Supreme Court at Hamilton to clay were interrupted hy Mr. W. ■I. Kin:, ulm a.-k.'d .Mr. .fusti'ce Smith if he unnld meet, counsel in Chambers. ' His Honor agreed and the Court ii Ijoiiinvd. When the ( our 4 - resinned a quarter of fin h • later, Mr. King said he would like to draw hi* Honor's attention to tin , fact that one of the jurymen had been occri during the luncheon adjournment, in con vernation with one of the defendants in the case. Counsel paid the eiiie was n most important one, and he felt it was his duty in his own client'* intercuts to bring the matter before the Court. He would like to have the jury man's assurance that the conversation had nothing to do with the mi si , . j Asked iiv his Honor if he could sup- i port, his statement by evidence, Mr. Kiln.' railed Countable V. H. Henry, who ■said he naw the two men in conversation Ht 2 p.m. and heard one remark. Witness pointed out the juryman concerned. The juryman stood up at his Honor's request, and gave his assurance that the eon vernation had nothing whatever to do with the case. HW» Honor eaid that what had occurred was not exactly a breach of the direction he had piven the jury before the luncheon adjournment, not to discus* the case with others, but it was very unwise for a juryman to convene with a defendant during the trial of a ca*e. Mr. .T. P. Strang suid he had defend- [ ant'e statement that the conversation I related to mi extraneous matter. His Honor: I should have thought that defendant would have been particularly careful not to talk to a juryman. However, the matter ie now cleared up and everyone is satisfied. The ease inay proceed.