JURY'S UNUSUAL REQUEST.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXIII, Issue 3075, 5 November 1929, Page 5

JURY'S UNUSUAL REQUEST.

WANT TO GO TO THEATRE ?

During the hearing of a murder charge in the Supreme Court at Dunedin on Wednesday, the foreman of the jury, addressing His Honour (Mr. Justice Kennedy), asked if the jurymen might go to some entertainment that night, as they felt considerably the strain of sitting in confinement, and their accommodation was very cramped (reports the Otago Daily Times). Some-of them did not smoke, and the only place where they could go in the hotel was the smoke-ing-rpom. If they could be relieved in some way- they would be pleased. His Honour said it was difficult to do what they asked, consistent with the observance of the statutory requirements. He appreciated the fact that the jurymen were being kept away from their homes and families, and that they would find the time hanging heavily upon them. They had been locked up one night, but it appeared that the point had been reached when they would not be locked up for a third night. He trusted that the consciousness that they were doing their duty to a cause and their country would compensate for the merely temporary disability which they were at present suffering. The jury was then escorted from the Court by the police.