TRIAL OF PEER
ACQUITTAL ON MAIN CHARGE LONDON, December 16. A jury of men today found 27-year-old Lord Montagu not guilty of a homosexual affence against a 14-year-old boy scout, but could not agree on a lesser charge of indecent assault. The trial began on Monday at the Winchester Assizes before Mr Justice Lynskey, who ordered the names of the two boys involved not to be published. The jury deliberated for 40 minutes today then came back and asked to hear the story of a fourth member of the bathing party at which the offence was alleged to have occurred, but Mr Justice Lynskey said that neither the prosecuting iw’r defence counsel had called the man as a witness and the jury must make up their minds on the evidence available.
The jury retired for a further hour and a half and then returned to acquit Lord Montagu of the more serious charge, but dealing with the second charge the foreman said: "We cannot reach a verdict. There are seven against five.” The Judge discharged the jury and put back the tribal to the next Assizes in March when a new jury will try Lord Montagu on the lesser charge.
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Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27226, 18 December 1953, Page 11
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200TRIAL OF PEER Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27226, 18 December 1953, Page 11
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