A SHORT TRIAL

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 40, 17 February 1933, Page 12

A SHORT TRIAL

VERDICT OF NOT GUILTY

The shortest criminal trial of the picsent session took place ■in the Supreme Court yesterday afternoon, when exactly an hour and a half after being sworn-in a jury returned a verdict of not guilty: The accused was John Lightfoot, who was charged with being a rogue and vagabond in that he was found armed with a baton, with felonious intent.

The evidence for the Crown was that on December 3 an attempt was made to organise a demonstration of unemployed. This was effectively stopped by the police, although one or two demonstrators walked through the streets and reached the gates of Parliament House. The accused was seen in the vicinity of Woodward Street carrying a banner. He was stopped by the police and taken to the police station. On the way, it was alleged, the, accused threw the baton on to the ground Mr. J. D, Willis, who appeared, for the accused, did not call evidence, and Mr. C. Evans Scott for the Crown did not address the jury a second time. Mr.-Willis dissected the evidence for the Crown and submitted that' there -was a reasonable doubt that the accused was in possession of the baton-. If the jury was satisfied there was a doubt, then the accused was entitled to the benefit of it, and should be found not guilty. The Chief Justice (Sir Michael Myers) was on the Bench.