SERIOUS CHARGES MADE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19718, 18 August 1927, Page 12

SERIOUS CHARGES MADE

JURY FAILS TO AGREE. THREE MEN TO BE RETRIED. fm r TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] CHRISTCHUrtCH. Wednesday Serious charges were preferred against three young men who appeared in the Supreme Court to-day before Mr. Justice Adams. The accused, Robert Grant Bastion, Harry Allen Fellingham, and Walter James Alexander Mitchell, pleaded not guilty to having used an instrument for an unlawful purpose. There were two charges against Mitchell and one against each of the other men. The case for the Crown was conducted by tins Crown Prosecutor, Mr. A. T. Donnelly. Mr. J. B. Ratcholor appeared for Mitchell, and Mr. M. J. Burns for Bastion and Fellingham. Dr., C. King, house surgeon «at the Christchurch Hospital, said a young woman who was admitted to the hospital in June was still ill, and was unable to give evidence. The evidence which the sick girl gave in the Lower Court was read to the jury ll concerned the charge against Bastion and Mitchell. The girl in the ease m which Fellingham and Mitchell were charged gave evidence. Mr Batchelor submitted that, m fact, no unlawful use was made of an instrument. Mr Burns held that the evidence showed that the girls involved had secured the services of Mitchell, and that Bastion and Fellingham were simply acting as "go betweens" for the girls and Mitchell After a retirement of four hours the jury failed to agree, and a new trial was ordered for Monday.