The Feilding Case.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 3, Issue 70, 15 February 1883, Page 2

The Feilding Case.

THE ALLEGED "MURDER." The case Roots v. Jones, m which the defendant had been incarcerated m Wanganni jail, was heard yesterday at Feilding before Mr Ward, R.M. ' Roots swore that he considered his life m danger at the hands of Jones. It came out m evidence that when the alleged attempt at shooting was made, Roots was quite 80 yards away, and not only was the gun, unloaded, bub there was actually no ammunition on the premises. The Bench considered it a most trivial case, but as Roots persisted that he was m bodily fear of J6aes, the latter was bound over to keep tho peace, m his own recognizance of £20, and two sureties of £10 each. Bail was forthcoming at once, and the defendant (for whom Mr Hawkins, sen., appeared) was released. Mr Ward animadverted m Btrong terms on the most reprehensible manner m which the assault had been magnified by the local Press, and in* directly through the medium of the Press Association. The latter cannot be held altogether blameworthy, as it has to trust to a |great extent to its local correspondents. Wen they are carried away by personal prejudice, or are unfitted for their duties by dense ignorance and complete inexperience, the reputation of the Press Association suffers materially m consequence, and its subscribers have cause tor complaint thrmgh publishing grossly inaccurate statements. Mr Ward remarked that the defendant might be caused serious injury now and hereafter, by the most reprehensible manner m which the telegraphic accounts m the newspapers had been exaggerated. When we published'the original telegram, m which Jones was said to hare " attempted to shoot " Roots (with an unloaded gun 1) and was referred to as the " wouldnbe murderer," and was "supposed to-be in* sane," a warrant having also been obtain* ed for his arrest, we added the following footnote: — -"The above is a misrepresentation of the grossest character, and has scarcely any foundation m fact. We would not have printed it without this explanation. The United jfress Association should institute the most searching inquiries, tho result of which we venture, to say will be that any future communications from the above source will be peremptorily refused." We may say that wa never knew a more wanton abuse of . his position ' m bj a cor* respondent of the Press Association. It was a malignant, cowardly, dirty act, of which any decent man would feel heartily ashamed. We don't know, nor do we care, who the Feilding correspondent of the Press Association is, but we trust the Asoociation will m common justice to Jones, take the earliest opportunity of removing the stigma cast on his character through the instrumentality of its correspondent, and which may come against him m years to come. We scarcely think information from such an* unreliable, biased, and irresponsible source will be distributed I again m a hurry, if the Association has I any regard for private character, the public welfare, or the interests of its constituents.