PERPLEXING.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 10509, 13 February 1928, Page 5

PERPLEXING.

IRISH PRISONERS AFFECT MUTENESS JUDGE’S STRICTURES ON JURIES (Aust. aud X.Z. Press Assn.) (Received Feb. 12, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 11. A perplexing dilemma occurred at the Dublin criminal court, when two youths, Russell and Price, were charged with membership of an illegal military force. They refused to pleao and the judge ordered the jury to decide the customary formula if the prisoners were mute of malice or by visitation of God. The police give evidence that the prisoners were able to speak, but the foreman of the jury announced that there was no chance of agreement. The judge asked why tsnd the foreman kept silent .The judge ordered the jury to re-consider its verdict, and the foreman again reported disagreement. The judge replied: “It is a long day, gentlemen. Try again.” Then he heard other cases, but the jury persisted in its verdict and the judge discharged them, ssying that the verdict was perverse. Meanwhile James Donnelly, charged with escaping from prison, similarly refused to plead and the jury similarly reported that it failed to agree if he were dumb or were maliciously mute. Donnelly interrupted: “To save trouble I plead guilty.” A juryman offered to explain but the judge demanded silence. He added: “The prisoner has now- spoken. He says he is guilty. I direct a plea of guilty to be recorded acocrding to law. 8