THE OTAGO LAW SOCIETY IN JUDGE GILLIES' CHARGE IN GUDGEON'S CASE.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3646, 20 March 1883, Page 3

THE OTAGO LAW SOCIETY IN JUDGE GILLIES' CHARGE IN GUDGEON'S CASE.

Dunedin, This day

A meeting of the legal profession, called by the L;iav Society, avus held in the Supreme Court yesterday to consider the question of Judge Gillies' charge to the jury in the Gudgeon case, tried at Auckland.

' It was decided that the meeting should not be open to the Press, and that only the resolutions passed should bo published. The following resolution was passed : — "That after consideration of the case of Rcgiua v. Gudgeon, as explained by the letter of his Honor Air Justice Gillies to Air Jas. Russell of the 21st of February, ISB3, it appears to this meeting that the unfavorable comments of the learned -fudge updh the defence raised by Mr Hesketh at the trial were inapplicable anil uncalled for in view of the circumstances of the case."

To this Air Stout moved;—" That, as Judge Gillies has disclaimed any intention of attempting to feter the freedom of the Bar iv defending prisoners, thia meeting - is

of opinion that it is unnecessary to express any opinion on the Judge's charge in the case of Regina v. Gudgeon." This avus negatived.

Mr Hoskhig then moA-ed : —"After considering the ch'cunista.nees of the case, and Judge "Gillies' letter to Air Russell, this meeting is of opinion that there Avas nothing open to censure in the line of defence adopted by the prisoner's counsel. This was negatived by nine to four, and the original motion avus then earned, Mr Stout and Air Hosking alone voting against it.