WOMAN REBUKED BY JUDGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19891, 9 March 1928, Page 12

WOMAN REBUKED BY JUDGE

'/TRIED TO INFLUENCE JURY."

WARNING ISSUED TO PUBLIC.

[Bi* TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT. 3 HAMILTON, Thursday,

A stcfri rebuko was given to tho mother; ;of . ail accused person .by Mr, Justice Blair in tho Hamilton Supremo Court tC'day for attempting to discuss the case in which her son was concerned with the foreman of tho jury. On tlio resumption of the Court this afternoon -'Mr. H. T. Gillies, Crown solicitor, said tho foreman of tho jury had reported that the mother of an accused man had approached him, and had endeavoured to discuss tho case with him.

Mr. Justico Blair had tho person concerned called and asked her if what the foreman hid said she had done was true.

"No, I didn't," said tho woman. "All I said "Wps that it was nino years ago today since my boy returned from the war."

The Judge said what tho woman had done was a very serious matter. Slio had tried to influence the jury. His Honor r,aid "if anything like it occurred again he. jvojild have no hesitation in imposing a term of imprisonment on her for contempt -of, Court. The wqjnan, he said, had done a verv dangerous thing. It was fortunate that it was the foreman to whom she had spoken. When- counsel for accused asked for bail at the adjournment of the case this evening the application was opposed by Mr. Gillies.

The application was refused by the Judge, who warned the public generally riot to attempt to discuss the case with the jurymen.