CHARGE OF MANSLAUGHTER

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13495, 23 May 1907, Page 5

CHARGE OF MANSLAUGHTER

COMPLAINT AGAINST A GRAND ..- ' • JURY.". ./ [BY TELEGRAPH.— ASSOCIATION.] ' \ ' Christchurch, Wednesday. At the Magistrate's Court to-day before Mr. V. G. Day, S.M., William Barnard Rhodes Moorhouse was brought up on remand on a charge of committing manslaughter.' f '■: /. :.. ' ' ! Mr. Stringer, in opening the case for the prosecution, said it had been before His Worship on a previous occasion, when accused was committed for trial. An indictment was presented in due course,,but the Grand Jury in face of the mose explicit directions from the judge, and for reasons best known to themselves, threw out the bill. Having regard to the indisputable facts of the case,, it was impossible for the Crown to allow the , prosecution to be smothered in the Grand , Jury room, and consequently proceedings had been commenced de novo. It was, he thought, extremely unfortunate for all, concerned that the Grand Jury, or to speak more correctly, some of them (because it was clear they were not unanimous) should have refused to find a true bill, as their action must inevitably give rise to a suggestion that they did not deal with the case on its merits, but were influenced by class considerations. The facts were simple. Accused rode a motor v cycle along , a portion of • the : New Brighton Beach,' which was known to be frequented by men, women, and children, at a terrific pace; or somewhere about 60 miles an hour, and in doing so knocked down and killed a child named Gourlay. Accused might be able to satisfy a jury that the death of this child was not attributable to his criminal negligence, and that he was not therefore guilty of manslaughter. He sincerely hoped he might be able to do so, but if it was to be done it must be done in broad; daylight in open Court, and not in the privacy of the Grand Jury room. •'.;:. ; s , Evidence was then given for the prosecution.' ■''"■ '" •■ ' ' The magistrate said he had showed negligence in riding at the speed he was stated to have been travelling at, and committed him for trial. Bail was allowed, accused in £100, and one surety of £100. :