SERIOUS CHARGE AGAINST A MAGISTRATE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2209, 30 November 1920, Page 2

SERIOUS CHARGE AGAINST A MAGISTRATE.

(Manawatu Times.)

Mr Wili’ord made devious stale* metil.s in the Supreme Court, Wanganui, on Friday. First of all ho uttered the .suggestion that Mr Stout, S.iM.'' being “a very young man’,’ “might; have,been inJlueneed in his decision (in a certain ease) by interested persons outside the Court.- ’ Sir Bassett Edwards “regretted very much" Hint Mr Wilford “had made reflections which should not; have been made.” At a later stage-counsel asked leave to qualify his former remarks. After slating the fact that as Minister of Justice he had appointed Mr Stout as a magistrate—-a reference in itself not at all appropriate or in good taste ,under the circumstances —he said (according to the press report from which we quote) : “It was hard to say how far the magistrate had been unconsciously influenced by an official of I lit; Court at Fox ton who had admitted being on bad terms with the accused.” This last .-enlenee was uttered by counsel deliberately when he was asking Mr Stout to accept what he called “the amende honourable.'’ The onus is upon the ulterer. The suggestion is a very serious one. ll should not have been heedlessly made. It most nut he lightly aeeepled. The matter cannot be allowed to rest where it is.