WASTING TIME

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 29, 4 February 1927, Page 8

WASTING TIME

SUPREME COURT CASE

(By Telegraph.) ■■■ (Special to "The Evening Post.")

AUCKLAND, This Day. A verdict of not guilty was returned by the jury in the Supreme Court yesterday upou a charge laid against "William Holmes, a waterside worker, of using obscene knguage_ on two occasions on the wharf. Accused could have been dealt with summarily in the Magistrate's Court, but he had invoked his right to be tried by jury."

The chief witness" for the prosecution was a Harbour Board gatekeeper, who had stopped Holmes as he' was leaving the wharf with, a bundle of. packing-case timber for firewood.

Holmes and a. number of -waterside workers gave, evidence to the effect that Holmes had .told the gatekeeper that he ought to have a putty medal," but that no obscene language had been used. It is high" time the attention of the authorities was drawn to the absurdity of such cases as this being brought to this Court, and taking up the time of juries/ 1! remarked Mr;.:; Justice Herdman, in summing up. The hearing occupied approximately three, hours, and the jury took 50 minutes more to reach its verdict."