ACQUITTED.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 170572, 4 August 1921, Page 2

ACQUITTED.

■THE SWINSON CASE. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Aug. 3. Tho Supremo Court was crowded to-day, when John Swinson, a wellknown advertising agent, was charged in that lie did have in his possession a glass plato with a photograph negative containing figures and characters resembling a £5 Bank of New Zealand note. Mr Macassey, Crown Prosecutor, said, that there was no suggestion whatever of any intent to commit a crime. The Note was photographed merely for the purposes of a guessing competition of the names of the New Zealand team to meet the Springboks in the first tost match. Mr Martin Buckie, representing the accused, in applying for a ruling of tho court that there was no case for a jury, said Unit tho lower court proceedings had been reported in the Press of tho Dominion as a case of possessing means of counterfeiting, and that accused had admitted tho offence. “That sort of thing is likely to injure my client in business throughout tho Dominion.” Ilia Honour: “It is very unfortunate.” After lengthy argument concerning the definition of “without lawful excuse,” His Honour said that lie would exerciso the discretion allowed the Court by the Probation Act 1920, and discharge the accused without sending the case to the jury. The discharge, added His Honour, would have the full force of an acquital.