SCENE AT AN INQUEST

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 371, 15 September 1930, Page 8

SCENE AT AN INQUEST

BARRISTER AND JURYMAN Heated remarks that passed between a barrister and a juryman caused excitement at an inquest at Angar, says an English newspaper. The barrister, Mr Herbert Malone, complained to the coroner that a juryman had told him he was trying to trip a witness. This Mr Malone strongly denied. “I have never known an inquisition like this in al] my life,” he declared, “and I shall take it to the King’s Bench.” Later Mr Malone told the coroner that the juryman had spoken to a material witness, telling him his opinion as to how the accident into which they were inquiring had occurred. The juryman, in his turn, complained that Mr Malone had been pointing at him and criticising him ever since the inquiry commenced. He had also said that the jury had made up their minds, and it was useless going on. Mr Malone denied this and protested against the juryman serving. The coroner remarked that he did not like to discharge a juryman in the middle of a case. He had nevci done so. Mr Malone observed that recently High Court judges had made certain observations on the conduct of some inquests, and more would be hoard of that.