CHALLENGING JURYMEN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16003, 20 February 1914, Page 6

CHALLENGING JURYMEN

MR WILFORD'S CONTENTION

(Per United Press Association ) WELLINGTON, February 19.

An interesting point cropp-ija up m the Supreme Court to-day, in conecuon with the empanelling of the jury in the case in which William Thomas i'oung was charged with sedition. When the name of one juror was called Mr YVilford, on behalf of the defence, said he wished to challenge the man for cause. The ,; cause " was that the juror was an employer of labour and during the strike the drivers in his employ had downed tools. His business was in consequence dislocated.

His Honor: That is not a ground at cause. This is a charge of sedition. Mr Wilford: The defence has a right of only six challenges and in the last case the Crown exercised 32 challenges. The Crown practically selected its own jury. His Honor said the Crown never challenged jurors. It merely ordered them to stand by. Mr Wilford: In America what I asked would be allowed easily.

Hie Honor (with a smile): But this isn't Wmerica.—The Chief Justice added that judging by the result of the jury's deliberations the Crown did not always "practically select its own pury." Mr Wilford: But surely the Crown i does not always want to convict. Counsel I then challenged the juror in the ordinary way and the incident closed.