MEIKLE COMMISSION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1738, 2 May 1906, Page 3

MEIKLE COMMISSION.

A STRONG APPEAL, .(Per Press Association..) Dunedin, last night. Justices E iwards and Coopersat tO'day as a Royal Commission to inquire into the oase of John James M-ukle. Mr A. R Atkinson (Wellington) appeared for Meikle, aod Dr Fiadlay for toe Crown. Mr Atkinson opened the case for Meikle at great length. The Commission sitting in 1906 was asked to decide whether a man was rightly convioted in 1837. That was the maia question, but there were Other questions. If Meikle was not a sheep stealer, and if, as he contended, ha was not merely wrongly convicted but innocent, then he was as grossly wronged a man as could be. His fate had been worse than that of a murderer. He had

been unjustly robbed of liberty, reputation, and practically everything that made life f worth living. He had succeeded in seour* ing the cooviotion of the chief witness Bgaiast him for perjury, aud yet he had been permitted to go on for eleven years with his great wrongs unredressed. Coua* sel then went on to review the evidence given at the hearing of the charge against Meikle, and commented on it, and then referred to the difficulties encountered by Meikle on his release from pri.-on in work* ing up the case against Lambert for perjury. Counsel bad not conoluded his address When the Commission adjourned.