FAILURE TO AGREE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVIII, Issue 239, 6 September 1928, Page 8

FAILURE TO AGREE.

Per Press Association

MASTERTON, Sept. 4. The Supremo Court to-day was occupied with a case in which Walter Scott •agby, the well-known jockey, was charged with having on April 14th, 1928, committed a serious offence upon a Masterton girl eighteen and a half years of age. A second charge against Bagby was that he had indecently .assaulted the girl, and a third charge was that he committed an indecent act in a place to which the public have access. The last charge was struck out on the ground that the scene of the alleged offence was not a place to which the public have the right of access.

' Mr Justice Ostlor was on the Bench pnd the accused, represented by Mr T. M. Wilford, pleaded not guilty. Mr R. R. Burridge conducted the case for the Crown.

The offence was alleged to have taken place at the rear of a dance hall. Complainant stated that she returned to the hall alone only in time to dance part of the last dance, but a number of witnesses for the defence testified that complainant returned with Bagby in time to dance in the last two dances.

The jury retired at 5.55 and returned at 10 p.m.. failing to agree. A new trial was ordered for the October sess’on of the Supreme Court in tVellington.