THEFT CHARGE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20103, 9 May 1935, Page 7

THEFT CHARGE

JUDGE TAKES UNUSUAL COURSE By Telegraph—Press Association PALMERSTON N„ May 8. With a long calendar of criminal and civil cases, the Supreme Court opened to-day before Mr Justice Smith. The session is expected to last several In his charge to the Grand Jury,-the Judge said there were seven indictments for consideration, six of which re ]p.--' ■- offences against property. True bills were returned in all cases. The unusual course of discharging a jury and directing the rehearing of a case, after evidence had been tendered by the first witness for the Crown, was taken by the Judge. The accused, Keith Elford Craig, metal dealer (33), Wellington, who was charged with theft, or alternatively, with receiving bronze bearings at Linton, requested that the case should be stood down as he had been unable to get witnesses to the Court. Accused said, when the indictment was read, that if the case proceeded the Court would hear two witnesses for the Crown. He would be able to give only his own unsupported statement, though that would be on oath. After questioning the accused, the Judge said the accused was trifling with the Court and ordered the case to proceed. Subsequently, during the crossexamination of the first witness, accused declared that he had no opportunity whatever of getting in touch with the witnesses for the defence, as after the Lower Court hearing he had been placed in custody, and had been unable to communicate with the outside world. The Judge here adjourned the Court briefly in order to make inquiries, after which the Judge announced that he did not wish to place the accused at a disadvantage. It appeared that accused had not had much time to prepare his defence. The Judge discharged the jury and directed the Registrar to bring to Court at the Crown’s expense any witnesses accused might name. The case was set'down for Monday. Accused indicated that he wished to conduct his own defence. The Judge added that the Crown Solicitor was unaware of any embarrassment of the accused.