THE MUNGANA ACTION

Otago Witness, Issue 4041, 25 August 1931, Page 26

THE MUNGANA ACTION

JUDGE'S SUMMING UP. BRISBANE, August 21.

The Chief Justice said: “ A singular feature of this case is that we have our Sovereign Lord the King presenting an indictment against two men who for many years were his sworn advisers in Queensland, and one of whom now is his sworn adviser in the Parliament of Australia. .This is both singular and regrettable.” After explaining to the jury the principles- of the evidence and the aspects which disclosed suspicion, the judge commented on the failure of the defendants to give evidence. The jury certainly had no means of deciding the truth or otherwise of defendants’ answers to the interrogatories. It, however, should decide whether enough had been given to warrant explanation or contradiction, and if the source of such explanation or contradiction was available and not used the jury was then entitled to draw certain conclusions.

The summing up was completed at 5.45.

JUDGMENT FOR DEFENDANTS.

BRISBANE, August 24.

The jury in the Mungana case found that Air Theodore at no time was a party to any conspiracy, nor had the money paid to him M’Corniack been in respect of tile sale of the Alungana

mines or of any interest held by Theodore therein. The jury’s answers were in favour of all the defendants. No damages werb awarded. Judgment was given fob Theodore, M'Cormack, Reid, and Goddard, with costs to be fixed.