ACCUSED DISCHARGED.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 209, 4 August 1937, Page 14

ACCUSED DISCHARGED.

VERDICT OF NOT GUILTY. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Aug. 3. The retrial of Dorothy Baker, married, aged 33, concluded before Mr Justice Fair in the Supreme Court. The two charges against her were of counselling or procuring Raymond Grigg to use unlawfully an instrument on a girl aged 19 at Panmure and on her own daughter, aged 14, on August 25, 1936. The jury failed to agree on the case about ten days ago. After hearing the evidence, His Honour directed the jury that on the second count, relating to accused’s daughter, there was no evidence to justify the jury in finding the charge was true, and they must find a verdict of not guilty. With regard to the first charge, they must not allow themselves to be influenced by the fact that the chief offender was not being prosecuted, as they had been told the police had been unable to find him. His Honour thought the evidence of the mother and girl on this count might be accepted as reliable in every respect. Accused’s statement admitted the fact relied upon by the Crown to establish the offence. After a retirement of two and a half hours the jury returned with a verdict of not guilty, and accused was discharged. On hearing the verdict she collapsed in the dock and had to be carried screaming from the Court.