JUDGE AND JURY

Manawatu Times, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 12804, 30 May 1914, Page 8

JUDGE AND JURY

I XT! !)KXT IX WAXAAXTL Sl' I'll I! M !•: ('()!' LIT. Press Association. —Ii y Telegraph. WAXIiAXri. May L'!». At the Supreme Court to-day a young man named Austin Henry Bru en stood his trial for a second time on charges of f 1 ) Attempting to carnally know a girl under sixteen years; (L"i indecent assauit; (•">) common assault. After three hours' retirement the jury returned with the following verdict: Xot guilty of carnal knowledge; not guilty of indecent assault; guilty o" common assault. Mr Justice Edwards declined to accept tin 1 verdict on the ground that it was illogical, and the jury retired f< r three-quarters of an hour, when it returned with the following verdict: Not guilty on the lirst count; (lis agreed on the second; and guilty on the third, with a recommendation to mercy. The Judge again declined to accept such a verdict, and the jury once more retired, and after quarter of an hour returned with a verdict of not guilty on all counts. Judge Edwards, addressing Bruen, said: —"The jury has disbelieved vour own statements made on oath. 1 recommend you to be more careful for you may not find that another jury will disbelieve you."

The prisoner and jury were then discharged. Prisoner, addressing the jury, said: —"Gentlemen". T thank you—" Judge Edwards: —"Prisoner at the Bar, you are lined £5 for contempt of Court." Prisoner's counsel pleaded for reinision of the line, but the Judge ordered the payment forthwith, and promised to hear counsel next morning. In the case in which Airs Mulliner claimed £IOOO damages from J. Ivess for injuries sustained as the result of alleged wrongful conduct of a serious nature, Sir John Findlav, for defendant, asked for an adjournment till next sitting, as two vitally important witnesses were ill and could not attend. Mr Wilford objected, but Mr Justice Edwards granted the adjournment.

A decree nisi was granted in the divorce case Florence May Gordon v. Matthew J. Gordon, on the grounds of drunkenness and desertion.