THE EVIDENCE OF PRISONERS

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1267, 10 April 1878, Page 3

THE EVIDENCE OF PRISONERS

Referring to a recent article which wo published on this subject, and particularly to the absence of information as to the operation of the Act of 1875,, the “West Coast Times” says :—“ We do not believe that any inquiries have been made about it. Some information on the subject could even now be obtained from magistrates. They could give some general idea about the past working of the Act; but from the very first they should have been requested to keep an accurate record of the cases tried by them in which the parties charged tendered themselves as witnesses and gave evidence. The record should have shown the nature of each case, and what was the decision. Now we are sure that nothing of the kind lias been asked for or supplied. On the West Coast, and especially in Hokitika, the nse of this Act has been frequent, and it seems to have given satisfaction. Indeed we have on several occasions heard persons charged before Justices tender their evidence in cases where it could not bo received, such persona being under an erroneous impression that the statute applied to all cases determinable by summary procedure. Moreover, we have heard the same request made over and over again before the Act was passed, or probably thought of. To us it seems clear that to defendants and prisoners the right to be sworn, and tell their side of the story on oath, is regarded with very great favor. The law is obviously popular with the classes of minor criminals and quasi-criminals, and we believe that were the same principles applied to all indictable offences at least a third of the persons charged would avail themselves of it.