CRICK-WILLIS TRIAL

Evening Post, Volume LXXIII, Issue 4, 5 January 1907, Page 5

CRICK - WILLIS TRIAL

e« ENQUIRY INTO JURYMEN'S ALLEGATIONS. SHERIFF'S OFFICERS IX DEFENCE. [PBESS ASSOCIATION.] SYDNEY, 4th January. Further evidence was heard to-day by I District Judge Fitzhardinge, who was appointed by the Governor to investigate charge of irregularities in connection with the jury which sat in the recent case in which Crick and Willis were charged with conspiracy The Sheriff's officers were examined. Those who were in charge of the juryroom declared that the conduct of the jury-room was always regular. Thef were never in the Toom longer than was necessary for the performance of duty, excepting on one occasion, when they frere present for half an hour listening to the reminiscences of one of the juTymen. They had never discussed the case with jurors or divulged anything. They denied the charge of listening at tho door. One officer stated that on several occasions the jury discussed the case within the hearing of the officials. Felton, the Sheriffs supervising officer, gave similar evidence. He also stated that he was once or twice with the defenaants, but the case was never mentioned between them. The officers did their duty properly. He emphatically denied the statement that the Sheriff had asked him to ascertain the opinion of the jury. He mentioned that, with other officers, he was present in the juryroom at the special invitation of the jury when the foreman received a birthday presentation from the other jurors. The commissioner's comment on this incident was that the officers had no right there. They had wandered in and out of the jury-room as if it wero_ part of the courthouse. He told the witness that would do for the present. \ The officers who were in charge of the J defendants deposed that they had never discussed the case with the defendants. After the trial they accidentally met Crick's brother in a Tefreshment-room, and had dinner together. Crick's brother I paid for the dinner. John Haynes, editor of the Newsletter, gave evidence, at his own Tequest, regarding an article published in the Newsletter referring to the conduct of the jury. He said he got the information foi the article from the foreman of the jury, and from his reporters. Ho further alleged that he had been told that a newsagent was approached by an officer, and asked for a hundied and fifty pounds to squaTo the jury. Crick, at his own request, gave evidence He deposed that the Sheriff's officers were utter itrangeis to him. Ho knew what- special precautions were being taken in the case, and he was most circumspect. He scrupulously refrained from, mentioning the case to the officers. They never mentioned it to him. He did not know a single juror. The Sheriff, re-called, Baid he had received special instructions from the Attorney-General to prevent possible interference with the jury. Those instructions were carried out. The bearing was adjourned till Thursday. EVIDENCE MODIFIED. (Received January 5, 7.46 a.m.) I SYDNEY, This Day. A newsagent named Kitcliing, examined by the commission, deposed that what he told liaynea was that, he hjid been approached in connection with squaring a case- of his own, three years ago. He was not approached in the Crick-Willis case. | Haynes, le-ealled, said that when he spoke of money being nought to square the jury he had not referred specially to the present case but to jury-squaring in general.

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