NO EVIDENCE PRODUCED.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19952, 20 November 1926, Page 6

NO EVIDENCE PRODUCED.

RELIANCE ON STATEMENT

INSUFFICIENT FOR CONVICTION

(Special to Uailx Times.) ' CHRISTCHURCH, November 18 A case in which the Crown brought no evidence against an accused person, but proceeded against him solely on a statemeat he had made to the police ended the criminal session of the Supreme Court this morning. Thomas Alick Ellis pleaded not guilty to three charges of breaking and entering shops at Temuka, Oxford, and Leeston, and stealing goods from each; also to three charges of receiving goods knowing them to ' a.ve been dishonestly obtaned. His, Honor Mr Justice Stringer said hp was bound to say that he would advise the jury that it was unsafe to convict on the evidence before it. The explanation that the man had given was reasonable. Ho seemed to have refused to have anything to do with the stolen property, and, although he was foolish to assist the other man in getting rid of the goods, he did not seem to do it with a view to aiding and abetting the. thief, but with a view to getting the incriminating goods off his pren ises.

At his Honor’s direction the jury returned a verdict of not guilty.