INTERFERING WITH JURY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17188, 3 November 1923, Page 2

INTERFERING WITH JURY.

HEAVY FINE INFLICTED. Per Prkss Association. WELLINGTON. November 3. The Supreme Court (Full Bench) dealt further with the case of 2?ash v. Nash, ex parte Cobb, a case of an application for the commital to prison or attachment for alleged attempt to influence a juryman during the course of a hearing of a petition for judicial separation. When the case was called this morning, Mr O'Regan said that Cobb now admitted that ho had spoken to a juryman, Hoggard. who appeared in support of the application for attach-, ment. He said that there was no desire that Cobb should be imprisoned. Mr Justice thereupon delivered the decision of the Court, during the course of which he said that although there had been no attempt at bribery, yet a serious offence had been committed in that an attempt had been made by Cobb to influence the verdict of the jury. There had been wilful contempt of Court and tho Court must regard che offence as serious. Cobb would be fined £SO and ordered to pay £ls costs, a writ of attachment to he issued to the sheriff, directing him to have the body of Cobb brought before the Court, the writ, however, to be held in the office for fourteen days. If payment of the fine and costs is made, the execution will not issue.