RELEASED ON BAIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20730, 25 November 1930, Page 12

RELEASED ON BAIL.

AFTER VERDICT OF GUILTY. POINT FOR APPEAL COURT. The unusual procedure of a man who has been found guilty of a crime being granted bail was followed at Iho Supremo Court in Napier last week, at the conclusion of the trial of Leslie William Gibbons on a charge of having, at Hastings, incited George 11. Harrison to commit the crime of breaking and entering. This step was taken by Mr. Justice Blair, in view of a question of law raised by Mr. E. J. Hallctt, for tho accused, as to whether making a request for someone to commit a crime actually constitute'! incitement His Honor directed the jury to find that this was a fact, but at tho samo time said that in tho caso of a conviction the final decision ho would leave to the Appeal Court. Tho jury was absent, for one hour and 40 minutes, returning then with a verdict of guilty, but with a recommendation to mercy on tho grounds that accused committed merely a foolish act. Iri view of tho fact that tho Court of Appeal does not sit, until March, the prisoner was released 011 bail in tho sum <if £IOO in self, with tho condition that ho report to tho police once a week ponding the decision of the Court of Appeal. Prior to summing up, Ifis Honor said that ho would amend the chargo to that of attempting to incite the (•xecution of the crimo in view of the fact that the crirno was not committed.