MOST EXTRAORDINARY CASE

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXVII, Issue LXXVII, 15 May 1919, Page 5

MOST EXTRAORDINARY CASE

WELLINGTON, May 14. * Arthur James Ford and Thomas' Evans, .employed a s night-watchmen at I the Defence Stores, Buckle Street were I charged with the theft of a variety of I articles from the stores. Evan® plead- ' ed not guilty, and Ford pleaded guilty to the theft of articles found in a bag he was carrying when arrested. Among the witnesses for the prosecution was Ford, who explained that he was under the influence of liquor on' the night_ in question, and could re- j member little about the proceedings, i Apparently the goods exhibited in the! court had been taken by him into aj yard. Evans then cleared out with! some of the goods, among which was a roll of damask cloth. Counsel for the defence said that' after the evidence given \y Ford he did ' not intend calling any witnesses. j The jury returned after half a n hour's absence and' asked the Chief Justice whether an accomplice in a. case of theft could be held guilty. His Honor replied affirmatively. The jury, after another hour'is absence, returned • a verdict of not guilty. j His Honor asked if the jury under- ; stood the charge he had given them. The foreman: Yes, sir. His Honor: I can only say it is the most extraordinary case I ever had in my life, and I have been 20 years on the bench. I

Lawrence John Maloney pleaded guilty to breaking and entering, and was remanded till Saturday for sentence.