AUCKLAND CRIMINAL SESSIONS.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17223, 13 August 1921, Page 11

AUCKLAND CRIMINAL SESSIONS.

(PBESS ASSOCIATION TIMOBi.It.) AUCKLAND, August 12. At tie Supremo Court, the third trial of Charles Joseph Be Lucca was concluded on charges of .stealing and receiving stationery arid fountain pens of a total value of £lB9, th© property of -Collins Bros, and Co. was alleged the accused was supplied with tlie' goids bv a fellow employee named. Trevor Napier Peate, who had admitted . stealing them and been sentenced. After two hours' retirement the jury' returned with a, verdict of r.ot guilty. His Honour: "I suppose we may you read hia confession," the remark ferring to a signed statement mads to t police "by De Lucca. ".The- jury did Rot reply. Accused was discharged. Thomas Henry Looinb, a mamea man, a tre<3 .68, 'was charged with alleged unlawful carnal knowledge, or alternatively of attempted carnal knowledge of and. aitte indecent assault on ft i5-year-old girl• oa M*7 16th. After an hour's retirement tUe jury returned with,a verdict of guilty, rider that «the girl should be put under per restraint. Counsel moved to apply »J W .trial, on the grounds that the verdict was against the weight of erjdeEoa, and w ed his Honour to. state a case for the of Appeal whether a peneral verdict on tfir oountTconld stand. The Judge reserved tne question.