JURY DISAGREE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 33, 9 February 1939, Page 6

JURY DISAGREE.

TWO QUESTIONS ASKED.

COURT COULD NOT HELP.

The jury failing to agree, a new trial was ordered for next week in the Ca«e at the Supreme Court in which Thomas Ocorge Harry Crowley, aged 19 (Mr. Sullivan), was charged before Mr. Justice Callan with unlawful carnal knowledge.

There was an nniMual development in connection with the hearing. When the jury had neen out for three and a-half hours, they returned to ask two question*.

Mr. Justice Callan eaid he was unable to help. Both he and juries sometimes wondered why certain aepects of a eas« had not been probed f'jrther. The law did not allow of the reopening of the evidence at such a late etage. He wa* prepared to have the matter cleared up as far as possible if counsel did not object.

Mr. R. Meredith, who conducted the case for the Crown, said he did not object to the girl concerned being called. Mr. Sullivan t>aid he would liave to rest in the hands of the law. One of the questions would require the evidence of the doctor, who had left the court. He knew no law which allowed such evidence to be called at that late stage. Hie Honor, in a further direction "to the jury, supported Mr. Sullivan'e contention, that if there was some point of evidence which might have made a difference to the case, one way or the other, then the jury should favour the accused! The jury was unable to agree even after a further retirement.