New Criminal Trial

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 86, 16 August 1923, Page 2

New Criminal Trial

ALLEGED CONSPIRACY AND THEFT. Per Press Association. Wellington, August 15. The re-hearing of charges of conspiracy and theft against Frank Coull, formerly an officer of the Repatriation Department, was continued at the Supreme Court to-day. The Chief Justice (Sir Rohert Stout) occupied the Bench. Sir John Finlay addressed the jury ou behalf of accused. He commented on the evidence at considerable length and asked the jury to consider whether some other officer of the department, rather than Coull, was not an accomplice of McCardell, who had already boen convicted of theft. < Counsel maintained that accused relied on the honesty of his brother officer and accepted his word.

His Honor then summed up, pointing out that it appeared that factitious applications ceased after accused left the office. The jury retired at 10 minutes to 12 o'clock and returned at 5 p.m., intimating that they had disagreed. The Crown Prosecutor asked for a new trial, which was fixed for the November sessions. The Chief Justice said this was the result of the verdict system which only existed in this country. England, Canada and parts of the United States.