Juryrigging suspected in Victoria

SYDNEY: The system of ‘‘jurysquaring’’ has become so prevalent in Victoria that an agitation is afoot in that state to abolish the jury system of trying persons charged with crimes, and establishing instead a method of trial by three judges. It is not making much headway, however; the old British system of trialbyjury dies hard, even when it is used to defeat the ends of justice.

According to the Age which has published several sensational articles on this subject, there exists in Victoria a complete organisation for the corruption of juries. The organisation is controlled by a man — the mastermind — who is equally wellknown to the police, the members of the underworld, and, in 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 and asked how much he will pay to have the jury ‘‘rigged’’.

The police know positively that these 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 the 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 the gang have recently been advanced with brazen effrontery. Two men, despite a strongly adverse summingup by the judge, were acquitted, and there is ground for believing that the price of acquittal was 5,000 pounds.