TRIAL OPENS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18402, 21 May 1934, Page 8

TRIAL OPENS

THE RUAWARO MYSTERY SMALL CROWD PRESENT JURY’S INITIAL TASK INSPECTION OF LOCALITY (Per Press Association.) Auckland, tins day. Contrary to expectations, there ' wq« only a small crowd at the Supreme .Court this^.morning when the trial of \Villiani Alfred .JBayly, .28, .oil a double murder .charge, opened. Biiyiv, a farmer, was faced with separate "charges of murdering Christobcl Lakey and Samuel Pender Lakey oh 'October 15, 1933, at. Ruiiwaro, Huntly. : Th“e Crown '-Prosecutor, Mr. -Vl'" it. Meredith, with him Mr. F. -McCarthy, prosecuted, while "Bay ly was represented by Mr. E. <H- Northcroft, with him ML h, P. .Leary, instructed by Mr. It. B. Lusk. Mr. Justice Herdman was on the lionoh. " Tlie first of the public to arrive opt-, .side the court was a blind man, who commenced to wait jit ,8 o’clock. By) 4P o’clock’ The crowd outside the /count .comprised Qply about 150, who formed in an orderly queue. They .filed in just before' 10 d’clogk lit an orderly fashion, men being adrrutted to the rear of the eburtrobitt and women to the gallery. Women were in a, minority. ’Sewen jurymen appealed for exemp tioh, handing written applications to the’ fudge. Only one was successful, this' •peihg on the grounds of personal friendship.' with the accused. Exemption was refused the others. “In ordinary circumstances I would excuse you j' but in the special circumstances of this ease I am sorry 'that I cannot,” said His Honor ,to one. Baylv was then called, and pleaded not guilty. ’ ‘ ‘ » i! The selection of 12 men to serve on tlie jury occupied a considerable time, 19 jurymen being challenged, 14 by the Grpwp and five by the defence. The court .then adjourned for an hour, .giving ,tlie jqrymfin a chgnce .to visit jtheir'homes and businesses in charge of ‘constables .to 3 jinalise arrangements for their' lengthy absence.' " " Shortly After .the .adjournment, t the court resuiuecl and the judge ariQflwiced' ’that the jury wouldbe taken to jßu.a--wavo in the afternoon to inspect 1 tlie Bayly and Lakey .properties. The jury .is not expected to return before 7 p.m. Mr. 'Meredith will outline ' (lie Cfoivn 'case to-morrow morning. During the remainder of to-day, court, officials will lie busy arranging the ex■jiibits, totalling over 2,50, which’ range from tiny phials To a pair of ..wheels with an axle, a- sledge, anji a. portion of a shed wall. The exhibits occupy .a great amount .of ,the already constricted space. Special .tables dping installed in front of ilivV bcix .and tfcb remainder of Tim .articles being piled'.along .the walls and all pyer one side of Tip court.