ALLEGED BREAKING AND ENTERING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18802, 3 March 1923, Page 7

ALLEGED BREAKING AND ENTERING.

TWO MEN CHARGED, 1 UNRELIABLE WITNESSES. CASE . FOE CROWN COLLAPSES. tP*a United Psess Association.) HAMILTON, March 2. At the Supremo Court to-day James Ferdinand MacLaren and George Carolen Brennan wore charged with breaking and entering the dwelling-house of Hnupapa. Whakauraianga by night, with intent to commit a crime, and stealing therefrom the sum of £ISOO and a Post Office Savings Bank book. The wharo was entered, a safe dynamited, and the money stolen. After evidence was given by several witnesses as to the alleged admissions by accused, his Honor said that he did not think the Crown had made out a very good case. Ho did not know whether he could advise the jury to convict on the evidence. The witnesses were obviously so contaminated that it was only on promise of a reward that they told what they knew. On the face of it the main witnesses on whom the Crown relied wore obviously dishonest. His Honor felt very strongly that no jury could convict on their evidence, and naked them carefully to consider whether it was worth while proceeding with the case. The jury, after □ short retirement, stated that they preferred to leave the matter of throwing out the case to his Honor. His Honor said that he would take (ho responsibility of saying that it would be unsafe to convict the prisoners on the evidence. The prisoners would therefore bo discharged.