JURYMEN VISIT HOTEL

Taranaki Daily News, 1 May 1930, Page 8

JURYMEN VISIT HOTEL

CONTACT WITH WITNESSES

JUDGE ORDERS ANOTHER TRIAL.

ALLEGATION OF SHEEP-STEALING

By Telegraph.—Press Association.

Dunedin, April 30.

When the charge of sheep stealing against Gilbert William Lewis was resumed in the Supreme Court yesterday, Mr. Adams, the Crown Prosecutor, Baid: “1 have been informed that last night when the court rose the foreman of the, jury and one juryman were in. company with two witnesses for the defence and went with them to an hotel bar where they were for some time in conversation and where they were seen by detectives.”

Counsel applied either to have the jury discharged or for the ease to continue with the ten remaining jurymen. Detective Sneddon gave evidence that he saw the foreman of the jury drinking with two of the defence witnesses. Another juryman was present, but he did not hear what was said.

Mr. Justice Kennedy said it was a regrettable incident and regrettable for accused because there must be a new trial with unfortunately attendant expense and inconvenience to accused and to the Crown. He ordered the 'discharge of the jury without a verdict and directed that a new jury be empanelled next Monday. The judge added that as the jurymen had not been heard he would take the view that their conduct was due to a misapprehension of their duties, - 3