SHARK-ARM CASE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 212, 10 September 1935, Page 7

SHARK-ARM CASE

TRIAL OF BRADY OPENS ALLEGATION OF MURDER CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE [By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyrightl Jicccived Sept. 9, 7.->5 p in. SYDNEY, Sept. 9. The Brady tria] in connection with the shark-arm case opened this morning. Intense public interest is being taken in it. More than an hour was spent in empanelling the jury. Braciy exhausted his right tn challenge. Challenges bv the Crown also exhausted the panel before tho requisite number of jurymen for the trial had been obtained. At 11.39 endeavours were still being made to complete this initial step in the proceedings. The empanelling of the jury eventunllv was completed at 12.10 p.m. The jury then retired while the admissib'dity of certain evidence was argued. Detective-Sergeant Allmond stated that at Brady's request tho litter had urn’ll shown two statements made by Holmes. Brady had said that the first -talement, was al! lies, bur. had said that the second was all right. Mr Allmond added that Brady's demeanour when reading the first statement was as usual, but when he read the second, “I noticed that his face changed colour ami hp appeared shaky. His hands were, shaking and his voice quivering.” Air Evatt, for Brady, said that this evidence was denied by the defence. Judge’s Ruling Chief Justice Jordan said that in his view it wa.s impossible to construe these words as an admission, and as regards Brady’s demeanour, anyone would be likely to turn pule. “It seems to me that if the evidence rests on this, I should reject it ns far as these statements are concerned,” he added. The Crown Prosecutor. Mr McKean, said that this decision had ‘‘thrown him out of gear a little.” At his request an adjournment was g-anted till 1 ho afternoon. After tho adjournment tl»? Crown Prosecutor announced that, the case would go on. He then proceeded to outline the evidence, and said that in view of certain legal argument which had taken place during the )urv , » aKsenco, the ease depended entirely on what was termed virrumstantial evidence. It was competent for lhe jury to return a verdict of manslaughter, but in hi* opinion it was murder or not h ing. At tho ranc’usion of the Crown Prosecutor’s observations, Mr Evatt submitted that the case could Ko taken from the jury, but Air Justice Jordan replied that there was bo practice by which a case could be taken from a jury on a prosecutor’s opening. Air Evatt: Thorp is a precedent. Tho Crown Prosecutor: There is not a reported case of anv precedent. 1 did not open in any dotiil, and certain facts max’ come out during the progress of the case. I suggest that the jurv should hear the evidence. Air Justice Jordon: Unless the Crown asks me, I don’t propose to withdraw the ease. Tho pvidjence was then entered upon and the cn g e ndjourno-l till to-morrow.

hands of the bosses of Orleans County, ruled supreme. .It was the dragon of Louisiana, from its lair in New (Jr b ans, holding the whole {State in subject imi. Tiie history of that machine i - a ; ameful one. Vice and corrupt i-m Eat. put to shame the Tammany Hall ,>•■ Boss Tweed existed openly. That ! siniv is written in terms of misery xml shame, in the sweat ami poverty tlii* poor Cajuns, the bare tooted t .ajuiis who followed lhe trails that ; : seil for roads, without, a decent .. hool system, without, the ability to voice rebellion that smouldered within Against this background Huey Long no deep and mysterious phenome a. lb* was a product of the times. Iluev Long looked into the canebrakes and saw the thousands of uncast votes, saw the sure and certain way to politi- . ,i| power. So into the canebrakes h ■ plunged upon his self appointed (ru ole. his steed a sound truck, his :■ niourv words ami worse. He is a product of the times, his weapons arc of the times' making. lie is spell binder, a rabble rouser who does not ’ >-<italc to use the phrase that will turn lhe political trick.