TURNBULL’S TRIAL

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28671, 22 August 1958, Page 14

TURNBULL’S TRIAL

Judge’s Warning To Jury (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright} HOBART, Apgust 20. Mr Justice Crisp told the jury in the bribery allegations case today it was unfortunate from the view of ideal justice that Parliament had traversed the - whole ground of the trial before the matter came to the courts. It was traversed in a forum where legal safeguards necessary in prosecutions of this sort were either unknown or incapable of being applied. The matter had received widespread publicity before coming to trial, and many matters may have been aired which were not evidence. Opinions may have been offered and prejudices urged. Mr Justice Crisp told the jury to “put politics to one side.” The summing-up to the jury was recorded on tape. The former Tasmanian Treasuser, Dr. R. J. D. Turnbull, has pleaded not guilty in the Supreme Court to two charges of corruption.

The Crown alleged that on November 12 last Turnbull solicited a £20,000 bribe from a Sydney company director, George Fitzpatrick, in return for the transfer of a lottery licence. Mr H. J. Solomon, for Turnbull, completed his final address to the jury today. “If a Minister of the Crown were to be convicted on the type of . evidence in this case, po public man would ever be secure,” Mr Solomon said. Mr Justice Crisp said there was one very important question in the case—the question -of credibility. Bitter and severe attacks had been made on people who had appeared in the witness box. It was a matter for the jury to say whether the attacks were justified. I ■ “Come to this trial determined to uphold the principle that the accused will be convicted or acquitted on the evidence you have heard in this Court and nothing else. “Put politics on one side. Some of you may or may not be adherents of one particular party or the other.” The hearing was adjourned.