DOUBLE-BA HEEL LED JUSTICE.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 March 1921, Page 3

DOUBLE-BA HEEL LED JUSTICE.

j SYDNEY, March 15. Some quaint tilings have happened in tliea Northern Territory. On c of the quaintest has just had its sequel in the High Court. A hop beer manufacturer, with the ' notable name of Villiers Clarence Mur- ' ray Presley, was last year charged at

Darwin under the Northern Territory’ Boor Excise Act, for having in his pos session, contrary to the provisions o that Act, half a kilderkin of beer. Mi Gerald Hogan, sitting as a specie magistrate dismissed the charge. The Territory officials were djssatis lied and they applied for an order nis to review the case. The applicatior was heard by Mr Gerald Hogan, and la granted the order. The case was thereupon re-heard bj Mr Gerald Hogan, sitting as deputyjudge, and he reversed the decision oi i Mr Gerald Hogan, special magistrate, , under authority of the order granted j by Mr Gerald Hogan for a review of , the ease, and Presley was fined £2O and £lO costs. There was too marked a suggestion of the immortal Poo-Bah about the matter for the parties concerned, and they brought it to the High Court on an appeal. The point was made that there could not be a deputy judge in the Territory, because there was no judge to be a deputy of. Mr Justice Higgins caused much amusement by sending for a Bible and quoting Kings, 2J-47; “There was then no King in Edom ; a deputy .was King.” Finally, argument on the point was postponed.