LABOURER CHARGED

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24826, 24 February 1944, Page 7

LABOURER CHARGED

JURYMEN'S ALLEGATIONS ACCUSED FOR TRIAL (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday In the Magistrate's Court to-day, before Mr. J. L. Stout, S.M., John Barrett, a labourer, aged 64, appeared on three charges of wilfully attempting to obstruct, pervert or defeat the course of justice by attempting*to persuade a juryman to take a lenient view of the accused in an abortion case, and on one charge of attempting to influence by a bribe a juryman in his conduct as such. Thomas Vincent Connell stated that on Sunday, February 6, a car stopped near his home, and a man got out whom he recognised as accused. Accused asked if witness was on the jury on Monday. "I said 'yes,' and he then said that the big case was coming off—the Radeliffe abortion case. He then said: 'Look here, she is a good woman. She has two children. She has lost her husband in an accident, and she is doing the young girls a good turn.' He said if there was a verdict by 11 jurymen I could say no," continued witness. He had told his visitor that he would only weigh the evidence as he found it.-

Bruce lan Cossar said that on January 29 he saw near his home an elderly person, who said he believed witness was on the jury. ''He said he would make it worth my while if I went his way," said witness. Francis William Elworthy, in evidence, said that on February 5 a man called at his home and asked if he was on the jury. He mentioned an abortion case. A daughter of the previous witness said that she had seen the visitor at their home. Harry Mason Xorling said that on February 5 he had a short conversation with a visitor to his house. The visitor said he believed witness was on the jury. The conversation led up to the abortion case. Accused pleaded not guilty to all the charges, and was committed _to the Supreme Court for trial, bail being allowed.

VERDICT OF NOT GUILTY (P.A.) NEW PLYMOUTH. Wednesday

After a brief retirement a jury returned a verdict of not guilty on the grounds of insanity in a case in which Harris Leonard Spence was charged with discharging a rifle at Rangi Skipper .on November 3, 1943, a:t Mangorei Road. Mr. Justice Finlay ordered that accused should be detained in a mental hospital. SOLDIER LAND-OWNERS (S.R.) WELLINGTON .Wednesday The introduction of legislation to enable soldier land-owners serving in the forces to have their votes recorded at local body elections was requested in notice of'a question given by Mr. W. A. Bodkin (Opposition—Central Otago) and Mr. W. S. Goosman (Opposition— Waikato) to the Minister of- Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. E. Parry, in theHouse of Representatives to-day, In a note to their question they t , rptnrninc officers at county round elections would not permit the attorney of a soldier to vote.