SUPREME COURT: CRIMINAL SITTINGS

Evening Star, Issue 17350, 12 May 1920, Page 2

SUPREME COURT: CRIMINAL SITTINGS

(Before His Honor Mr Justice Sim.)

Txtesdat, Mat 11,

The trial of Patrick Clare on a charge of stealing watches from the Tarawera's cargo was continued in the afternoon. Mr Hay, in addressing the jury, said that whoever the watches, Hyder and Wigg were accomplices, they having received the watches, and their evidence ought to be corroborated. Angus's evidence showed that the accused had no opportunity of getting at this'part_of the cargo when the vessel was at Wellington. Learned counsel also asked the jury to say whether it was the a-ct of a guiltv man to come back to Now Zealand witli the ship. Moreover, the watches could be more safely parted with in Australia than in New Zealand, and the fact that they were disposed of in Now Zealand showed that the man who did steal them hud not the opportunity of selling them in Australia. Tiie jury were further entitled to take count of Clare's positive denial, for he had long years of service. part of the time in the Royal Navy, and his character all along was good, no charge having ever been made against him. The jury retired at 3.25, and returned in less than a quarter of an hour with a verdict of " Not guilty." The foreman said they were unanimous. —The Waimate Case.—

Gladys Batchelor, charged with counselling or procuring James Revnolds Hayne to commit a crime, also with conspiring, and, further, with permitting. Accused pleaded not guiltv, and was defended bv Mr Callan. " ■

The Crown Prosecutor (Mr W. C. MacGregor, K.C.) said in the course of his opening that this girl had refused to give evidence against Hayne and Navlor. and in that refusal she was technically right, since by giving evidence ajrainst them she would be incriminating herself. It was in order that her mouth might be opened, and that she might be made to speak as to what had happened, that she was now prosecuted. It was in the inteicsts cf justice that the girl should be prosecuted, not for the sake of having her punished. If convicted on the present charge, it would be for the Court to sav whether any, and if so, what, punishment should he inflicted.

Ihe first witness was Dr Tilt, of Waimate. whose evidence was on the lines of that given jn the lower court. Other witnesses examined were William James Hutton (laborer), Christina Walko(proprietress Central Boarding-house), Douglas J. Y\ kite, James Hogg, Robert A Munro, and Robert Booth.

At 4.45 the Court rose for the day