JURY LOSES EXHIBIT

Taranaki Daily News, 18 July 1933, Page 10

JURY LOSES EXHIBIT

TWO EXHAUSTIVE SEARCHES. MELBOURNE COURT INCIDENT. An unusual incident occurred in a Melbourne Court recently. A jury, which after deliberating for nearly six hours, had been unable to agree, discovered at the last moment that one of the exhibits in the case—a receipt on a small piece of paper—was missing. When this was reported to Judge Moule he at once regarded it as serious, in view of the fact that it will be required

when the re-trial takes place. When the jury came into Court and announced it was unable to agree, Judge Moule remarked, “I understand you have lost one of the exhibits.” The Foreman: Yes, it cannot be found. His Honor; I think I have power to lock you up all night without any pay. The Foreman: It seems a remarkable thing. The whole of the documents were placed on the table. I saw one of the jurymen looking at the receipt, but when a search was made for it, it could not be found. We have searched all our pockets. His Honor: Do you think there is any chance of it having been thrown in the fire ?

The Foreman: No. His Honor: I do not desire to subject you to any indignity, but it is a serious matter. Tire Foreman: It is a shock to me. It must have been mislaid. His Honor: It is practically through negligence. It may divert the administration of justice. The Foreman: Yes. I am annoyed about it. We will go back and search each other. I am very worried. His Honor: I am sure you are; I am certain none of you would do it on purpose. If any one of you happens to find the paper, please return it. All the jurymen in chorus expressed a desire that another search be made.

This His Honor agreed to, and at the request of the foreman a police sergeant went into the jury room while another search took place, the jurors removing their outer clothing. The search was without avail, and as a last hope jurors were askeu to search their clothing when they reached home.