APPEAL COURT.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXIV, Issue 12747, 19 April 1909, Page 7

APPEAL COURT.

Th« Osjt /of Churl— Bak«r

Alleged Counselling to Crime

(Per United ' Frees Association). WELLINGTON, April 19. The Court of Appeal resumed its sessions this morning, takjngorthe case Rev v. Charles Baker. Baker was tried at Wanganui ,in March last on an indictment containing ,eight counts, charging him with counselling and procuring commission of a^jcrime, to wit, burglary. Also with aiding- and abetting, and with breaking and entering premises with intent to commit a criminal act. It is charged against accused that he wrote a letter to William Morris Scott, at Wanganui, explaining how explosives should be used to open a safe, and that two days later Scott and another Attempted to commit burglary at Wanganui, and were caught in the act. They were found guilty and sentenced to imprisonment. The jury found that the letter written by accused was not written in reference to a Wanganui burglary, but in reference to crime contemplated generally. It was contended by counsel that the writing of the letter was not a criminal act, and that the indictment, with the exception of the counts charging him with participation in a specific crime, in which Scott was sentenced, and on which the jury had found accused guilty, had no Connection with or disclosed no offence. Mr Justice Chapman reserved the question for the Court of Appeal, also the question whether the evidence taken at the trial of the accused was sufficient to show, when he wote the letter, that be knew of a content" xite'l burglary at Wanganui. The case is still proceeding.