JUSTICES' JUSTICE.

Mataura Ensign, Volume 7, Issue 414, 2 December 1884, Page 2

JUSTICES' JUSTICE.

TO THE BDITOB. | SIR,— On Saturday last there was heard a case befoie Messrs sSouuess and Mac Gibbon, J.J.P., in which a Chinaman (named I think Ah Ohong) was charged wivh entiing and . wounding one Laccy about the head and : face w>th a tomahawk. I may mention that there was a cross charge of a similar character by the Chinaman against Laqey. This case introduced some new features in the practice of the law, and the reception of evidence in support oE or to disprove an allege*! charge. Fir st there were two constables alternately acting* as counsel for the prosecution. Where one wis absent f rom the Couit his comrade conducted the examination. Next a medical witness was called, who had examined the head of the Chinaman and who testified to the existence of several incised wounds upon the Chinaman's head, which were alleged to have by.en caused by a knife used by the complainant. After this one of the Crown prosecutors (eonsfables) examiucd the Chinaman's head and con Id not observe any woumls (he. the constable, was not on oat.h at the time, wkjreas the medical, witness was). The Bench apparently ; ignored the medical tesdmony and 'adopted the statement of the constable. May L ask of what value technical evidence given before such a Beach is, or whether it is of any use whatever producing evidence before such a Court when two Crown prosecutors (constables) appear to support a charge aud exercise their greit knowledge of 1-iw and medicine to such entire satisfaction to ti'.e Bench as to en ible that augU3t body to dispense ' with the testimony of those duly qualified to judge? Such at any rate was the result of last Saturday's Court experience. Another feature' of this Court was that when the Justices retired to consider their decision they were accompanied by the Clerk o£ the Court. Query — Was it the judgment of the Justices or the Clerk of the Court? I have hitherto been under the impression ohat wh n Justices retired to consider their judgment they did so for the purpose of discussing the case between themselves without invoking the genius or ability of the Clerk of the Court. — I am, etc. Observer.