THE TRIAL OF RYAN AT HOKITIKA

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1268, 11 April 1878, Page 3

THE TRIAL OF RYAN AT HOKITIKA

A Hokitika correspondent of the Q-.B “Argus” writes:—The trial of Ryan, for the murder of Daniels, just concluded at Hokitika, attracted great interest, the Court House being crowded from the opening to the close of the case. Tory strong comment was made on the fact that the Crown had engaged, along with the services of the Crown Prosecutor, two other counsel to conduct the case against the prisoner. All those barristers received large fees, and a £lO note only was allowed for Ryan’s defence, which, we may remark, was very ably conducted by Mr Purkiss, the only remaining available lawyer after the Crown had completed their remarkable arrangements. Up to the time of the Judge’s charge the opinion universally prevailed that the accused would be discharged, but when the sum-ming-up was concluded—and it was very much against the prisoner—opinions, up to this time in favor of the innocence of the accused, began to waver, and many felt that there was at least a good case against him. The jury was locked up for 12s hours,' and during the first few of these ho\irs the Court-house was crammed With an anxious and eager throng, waiting patiently for the verdict. The most unconcerned and the most cool man in the building at this time, and indeed all along, was Ryan. He is a tall and respectable-looking individual, and his manner throughout struck most persons as being at least the manner of an innocent person. Those who witnessed his demeanor in Court, and saw with what perfect coolness ho acted throughout, were astonished at his endurance and pluck, and emphatically decided that the evidence of Uid woman Daniels, who said By aa “ shivered 1 * when she first saw him niter the murder, was utterly , The jury were equally divided, f eix being for “ guilty” and six for a verdict of “acquittal.” Ryan will bo put on his trial again in three weeks’ time. Ho himself is surprised at the result of the trial. So confident was he of being acquitted that lie x’emarked just as the jury we:;o about being locked up, “ At about six o’clock this evening I will be rt fay-ga agdin,” Tl-3 West Coast Times” says; —Ryar, |i will be again fried for murder on "the 2~\th of This'month, but it is doubtful if bis. Honor I the Chief Justice will preside, tt is probable indeed, that another Judge will be requested to attend the special sit tings,