VALUE OF AN ALIBI

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21987, 23 June 1933, Page 3

VALUE OF AN ALIBI

JUDGE QUOTES DICKENS.; A quotation from Dickens’s “ Pickwick Papertr 1 - 5 was' used by Judge Woinaveki in the Court of General Sessions in Melbourne recently when impressing on a jury the value of a good alibi.' - ■ '■ ■ ■■■-■ The trial was one in which Charles Flannery, 48 years, labourer, of Little Napier etreet, Fitzroy, and . James Kelly, 37 years, fruit hawker, of Collingwood, were charged with having broken into the shop of Giuseppe Puglisi, boot repairer, in Fitzroy, on April 15, and stolen a quantity of boots and an alarm clock. Kelly put up an alibi that he was at a party at his home at the time. His wife, a son, and other witnesses supported his story. Flannery also denied taking part in the offence. When his Honor summed up he went thoroughly into the question of an alibi, and the jury enjoyed his breezy sketch on the breach of promise suit brought by the widow, Mrs Bardell, against Mr Pickwick. He told of Tony Weller’s advice on the necessity of providing an abili as a defence for Mr Pickwick, and the jury was almost convulsed when his Hbnorv" in his inimitable manner, described how when Mrs Bardell. was awarded damages against Mr Pickwick the elder Weller lamented to his son, “ Oh, Sammy, Sammy, why wern’t there a alleybi.” The jury did not accept the alibi, and convicted the two men.;

His Honor sentenced the two men to imprisonment for three years.'