GUNNING TUE LODGER.

NZ Truth, Issue 244, 26 February 1910, Page 7

GUNNING TUE LODGER.

White's Wife and the Other Fellow.' "Unwritten Law" Defence Does tne Trick with Sentimental Jury. At the Auckland criminal court a young man named George Whyte was arraigned on a charge of shooting at a man named Frederick Stanton Workman with intent to do him grevious bodily harm. Accused, who pleaded not guilty, was defended by Mr J. R. Lundon. The trouble arose over the conduct of Workman, who was a lodger m Whyte's house at Stratford. When Workman came to Auckland, Mrs Whyte a>so visited the northern city. It was clear that a familiar relationship existed between Workman and the woman. Though accused denied on oath that he had said "he could do what he liked with Whyte's wife." Mr Lundon made a long, address to the jury, m which lie touched on the "unwritten law" farce, and appealed to the jury for a verdict of acquittal, His Honor, m summing up, said however much the jury might sympsthis f _ with accused m tbe exceed : n,7 l y Isd ni r_ner m wMoh lie l.nd i.e.!. r- -..'v', '■*■ ■"'■■ i must net infiuercc tii'ir .y>V<__. ':'_..-•

was no unwritten law m this country ; which justified one man pointing a revolver at another. Workman had taken up> a blackguardly position regarding; ' Whyte's wife, and he had been guilty; J of a grave wrong. | After 35 minutes ihe jury returned a. verdict of "not guilty" on the whote in-j dictment.