JURY DISAGREES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 200, 24 July 1937, Page 6

JURY DISAGREES

¥ 2 CHARGES AGAINST WOMAN. ¥ 1 Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, July 23. The trial concluded in the Supreme Court late to-night of Dorothy Raket. a married woman aged 33, oil charges of counselling or procuring Raymond Clrigg to unlawfully use an instrument |on a girl aged It), at Panmurc, on September 1, and on another girl on August 25. The Crown prosecutoi, Mr V. R. . I Meredith, said accused was cliarg- , cd with hoVilig procured the commission of these offences—one on her own daughter, aged 14, and the other on a girl aged If).' It was not suggested accused herself did the act. hut that she had counselled a man named Grigg to do so. If that were so she would lie equally guilty with the man. Grigg was not charged because lie could not now be found by the police. Summing up, Mr Justice Fair said as far as the evidence on the counte involving accused’s daughter was concerned it had failed to prove that an “instrument or other similar means” was used upon her. The girl had said she could not remember. As that went to the essence of the charge he directed that on that count accused must he found not guilty. There was the evidence of several witnesses to support the other charge and accused had substantially admitted that she had made certain arrangements and bad looked after the girl after the operation. j After a retirement of four hours the jury returned to report that they had not agreed, and they did not think there was any possibility of their doing so. They were accordingly discharged. Mr Meredith’s application for a now trial during the current session was granted. Application for bail for accused was refused.