"JURY-SQUARING"

Waikato Times, Volume 92, Issue 14368, 21 May 1920, Page 6

"JURY-SQUARING"

PUBLIC SCANDAL IN VICTORIA. The system of "jury-squaring" has become so prevalent in Victoria that an agitation is afoot in that Slate lo abolish the jury system of trying persons charged with crimes, and establishing instead a method of trial by three judges. It is not making inucli headway, however; the old British trial-by-jury dies hard, even when it is used to defeat (he ends of justice. According to Hie Age, which has published several sens;;tion..l articles on this subject, there exists in Victoria a complete organisation for Hie corruption of juries—the organisation is controlled by a man—the master mind who is equally well known to the. police, the members of the underworld, and. in a lesser degree, to the outside public. Publication of his name would cause a sensation. Behind him there stretches a highly efficient network, the primary object of which is to secure a perversion of justice—when a sufficiently large sum is paid. The head of the gang has under his direct control a number of agents operating in various suburbs, and through-one or other the accused person is approached uril nahul how much he will pay to have the Jury "rigged." The police know positively that theso things are done —but everything is carried out so carefully and cunningly that it is almost impossible to secure direct evidence. When the arrangement is made with the criminal. Hie members of the jury are deftly approached. There is generally at least one man among 12 who is susceptible to the touch of gold. Presumably aware of their practical immunity from arrest the efforts of tho gang have recently been advanced with brazen effrontery. A reputedly wealthy man was arrested on a criminal charge. He was approached by a. member of the gang, with the suggestion dial lie could secure freedom at the cost of several hundred pounds. There was another case in which the detectives were convinced I hat two jurymen were "squared." Two men, despite a strongly adverse summing up by the judge, were acquitted, anil there is ground for believing that the price of the acquittal was £.".000. The police, who arc positive of the guilt of the two men, say that the price /actually passed in cash.