COURT VERDICT

Greymouth Evening Star, 4 July 1933, Page 9

COURT VERDICT

JURYMAN NOT CONSULTED. SYDNEY, June 20. At the Quarter Sessions yesterday, before Judge Curlewis, after an accused had been acquitted and discharged, a juryman told his Honor that he had not been consulted before the verdict was given. James Crago, 35, sewer miner, was charged with having on March 24, broken and entered the shop of Harold Wilson Hall, at Botany, and stolen a side of pork. Near the end of the Crown case a juryman asked his Honor if the jury could give a verdict without leaving the box. His Honor: Certainly.

The juror then said that the jury had found Crago not guilty. Crago was discharged by his Honor, and left the dock.

Another member of the jury then told his Honor that he knew nothing of the verdict, and had not been consulted.

As Crago had been discharged his Honor said he was powerless. “However,” his Honor said to the jury, “your lunch is ready and I suggest you had better consider the matter calmly.” After lunch Mr McKean, K.C. (Senior Crown Prosecutor), asked his Honor to send for the jury. His Honor: What jury? Mr McKean: In connection with the loss of some pork. His Honor: Accused has now been discharged, and I cannot take a verdict.

The jury was then brought back into Court and took their seats in waiting. The incident closed, Crago having left the Court.