WEATHER REPORT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 254, 17 February 1921, Page 5

WEATHER REPORT.

(OLD AND SHOWERY

The Government meteorologist wived to-day:—Tho indications are for southeasterly winds, moderate to strong and ireshening. The weather will probably prove cold and showery. The barometer lias a rising tendency.

guiltv. Counsel suggested that it was all merely wild talk on the accused s part. .\obody would believe a statement by a. man of accused's type of standing. that he had authority to olfer £IO,OOO w.th which to bribe a"jury. It wad not denied that the statements had been made, but it was strenuously denied that he had any connection with. Eastpn. .„.„,, T ..-, HIS HONOUR SUMS UP. His Honour said that bo was not aware of a previous cast) of a similar nature to the present one, which was a testimony to the purity of the administration of criminal justice in this country, but there were grave possibilities of mischief in that direction. A day or two ago the newspapers reported the existence of an organised syndicate in Victoria for bribing juries, and it was apparently a flourishing business. He (rusted that it would be many a long day before a similar industrial enterprise reached this country. In each o the counts before them the jury would have to consider (1) whether the accused was guiltv of attempted brioery, and (2) whether he endeavoured to corrupt the witnesses in the case. The evidence lor the prosecution was wholly uncontradicted, therefore they might accept it as true, ami the question then /was how far did they prove the, charges? It was not necessary to prove I connection with Easton or that he had money. No actual offer was made, hut that was not the way bribery was conducted. A man would sound another, and suggest things, committing himself as litthTas possible, until he felt sure of his ground. The mere preparation for a crime was not a crime in itself, but if a man sounded a juryman on the subject, lie thought that that established an actual attempt to corrupt. As ti the defence's suggestion that Martin was talking "hot air," if they thought that he was talking at large without intention, they would find him not guilty. His Honour then reviewed the evidence in detail, and tho jury retired lit 1 p.m. to consider its verdict. The jurv returned a verdict of guilty on both counts relating to one juryman, and also to attempting to influence m three other cases. . His Honour sentenced prisoner to U I months' imprisonment with hard labour,