THE CONINGHAM CASE.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 83, 16 April 1901, Page 3

THE CONINGHAM CASE.

In concluding his address to the jury Mr Want put the case that the charge was a false one, and that the co-respondent had proved to the satisfaction of every man in the community that it was a false charge, because ho had produced 60 witnesses who had sworn absolutely and directly in the teeth of Mrs Coningham. In conclusion, ho left Dr. O’Havan in the hands of tho jury, feeling perfectly confident it would protect him from attacks of this kind. If he was guilty of this offence ho ought to be hanged, drawn and quartered, and sent down to a dishonest grave. But if Dr O’Haran was innocent of the charge, his name should bo written in letters of gold, and ho should receive the thanks of the community for having tho courage to face a blackmailing conspiracy, to which any respeetabje man might be subjected if suclj things were allowed to go on with impunity. Dr O’Haran came down from his high position as a dignitary of the Church of Rome, and stood before them with all the courage of a man who was not afraid of the fierce light that beats upon a throne. He came before them with a courage and heroism equal to tho man on the battlefield who performed a deed that won the Victoria Cross. He came before them, and, standing with his back to a rock, said : —“ Go on. My whole life is exposed to you. I will not shield myself by giving you a few hundred pounds.” Dr. O’Haran knew that the fountains of justice would still run as freely and as purely as they had over run in tho past, notwithstanding that some people in the past had tried to come here and interfere with it. He (Mr Want) ventured to hope lhat the whole world would know that when blackmailers tried these tricks there came between them and their victims an honest, fearless,, and courageous English jury to decide between them.