EWING DEFENCE FUND.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 146, 15 December 1871, Page 5

EWING DEFENCE FUND.

■ -/ -A-public meeting, having for its ob- '• ject the formation of a committee to collect subscriptions to aid ; 31V. EVving in ! his defence at' his forthcoming trial 1 —for shooting at and wounding a CLinaman at St. Bathans, caught' in the act of stealing gold from a, s Bis (Ewing's) claim—took place on the evening of Saturday last in George's •V ictoria Hall. Mr,' 'Uoberts- in the 'cliair. ' J ,' - 1 - f V ■ # .■ •*- ; :i'V;.'^ r y h© Chairman briefly recapitulated £he facts which had led to the uiiiortu- . nate position in which Mr.-Ewing wks placed; and remarked that though no . ioubt a fault had, been committted by •Mr. Ewing there were, in his opinion, ' circumstancessuch its to

call.for the sympathy of the minersMr. .Roberts dwelt upon the enormity of the crime oi'tail race robberies, which had to so great an extent obtaine 1 lip-"oiil-the ' goldHeltls, ' and' expressed air opinion that, l as the result of Mr Ewing's action .would tend to check depredat ions, the , persons benefitted should come forward and .subscribe, each according to his means, to enable Mr. EwinjV to obtain the best le^aL,talent available when put upon !iis trial. The chairman further stated that, while condemning the act .of Mr. i'-wing, he thought that,there were lew (himsldf included) who; under similar circumstances, »vould not have acted in alsmilar manner.; In' conclusion, the .Chairman urged the necessity of appointing a Defence Committee, . for which purpose tins meeting had been convened. •

The following resolutions' wc'r'3 then put tt> tlve meeting and carried nerii. con,: —-: ./ '■

. Proposed by Mr. H. B. M'Tntesli, and 'seconded by Mr. M. N. Cooper, "That this meeting desires "to express its <Mr. J£wing in his present unfortunate position. . .. J Proposed by Mr. M .N.,Cooper, and seconded by Mr. H. B. Mlntosh, : .That, as/ evidence of^'-such -sympathy,this meetingfis of opinion tliat a subscription should be set. on foot *;o raise funds.to aid that gentleman in his defence, arid thafc a cbihniil tee ; , cjnsisting . of. the follavying, gentlemen, ..viz :—: Messrs. Roberts, oreen, A. Brown and Farmer,' be; elected' by the present ineetihjj to prepare lists, and collect subscriptions.; .. . - Aft(jr a proposition by Mr. 11. Wilson., that the heading of the' St. Bathans lists b^'adopted,' had iieen carried, Mr. H. B. M'liitosh' was -appointed subtreasurer and secretary. - ; ~ With a vote of thanks to the- .chair the meeting then separated. .