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Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 956, 25 October 1910, Page 4

Attention was drawn in the Dunodin Police Court Inst week.to a-peculiar legal position arising from a rccont pronouncement by Mr. Justice Williams on the subject of bail (reports the "Otago Daily Times").' IMr. Bartholomew, b.M., stated that his Honour had directed that no bail was to bo allowed by magistrates unless there was a certainty that tho accused person, having pleaded "Guilty," would be admitted to probation by the Higher Court. In the caso before his worship the accused desired to plead "Guilty, and to save tho expense and trouble of a jury, but if he had done so the learned justice's-pronouncement left the magistrate no option but to send him to gaol till the next local criminal sittings of tho Supremo Court at tho end of next month. Mr. Hanlon accordingly, on accused's behalf, entered a plea of "Not guilty" so that his Worship might be free to grant bail. Ho pointed out that this dictum was likely to defeat tho provisions of the Act by inducing accused persons not to plead "Guilty" in tho Lower Court. Mr. Bartholomew" said he quite appreciated that point, but he hnd simply to carry out the terms of his .Honours statement, which were, .very ■emphatic