TRIAL BY JURY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 10853, 19 March 1921, Page 7

TRIAL BY JURY

GASE AT MASTERTON JUDGE SALMON’S COMMENTS ON CASE. “AN ANTIQUATED LAW.” (By Telegraph—Special to “Times.”) MASTERTON, March 18. The session of the Supreme Court opened this afternoon, Mr Justice Salmond presiding. Mr R. K. Jackson, on behalf of the Bar in Wairarapa, extended a welcome to His Honour, as this was his first visit. Mr Justice Salmond suitably acknowledged the welcome. Mr Justice -Salmond congratulated the Grand Jury on the freedom of the district from serious crime, there being only two cases —one of obscene language and one of obtaining money by means of valueless cheques. In regard to the obscene language case His Honour said the accused had the right of trial by jui-v, and had taken advantage of this privilege allowed by the law. The law in this connection was an old one, and would now be considered antiquated. It had been framed in the days when the bench was looked ujjon with suspicion, but nowadays magistrates stood high for their integrity and impartiality and determination that justice should be done. The result- of the old law that day was to bring 23 grand jurymen and 12 common jurymen to court in connection with the case, in which he did not think a grand jury would have much difficult}' in bringing in a true bill. He did not know but that, old law could be done away with, but that- of course was for the Legislature to decide. However, the accused was quite within his right in electing to have trial by jury. The grand jury, after brief retirement, found true bills in the cases or John Richards, obscene language, and Stanley Wallace Green, false pretences. After hearing the evidence the common jury found Richards guilty, and Hig Honour sentenced him to three months’ imprisonment. Green was found guilty, and remanded for sentence until to-morrow.