The Hutt Tarring Outrage,

Manawatu Standard, Volume X, Issue 1462, 23 September 1885, Page 2

The Hutt Tarring Outrage,

ATTEMPT TO BRIBE A WITNESS.

A DISGRACEFUL SCENE IN COURT.

(UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.") - "Wellington, Tuesday. The tarring case came on again to-day. The Hon. P. A. Buckley deposed that he knew accused* who had been m the employ of the Government as messenger from June 12 to July 31. Had known him 20 years. He was discharged by witness himself. Did not see accused at the Hutt after he hjtd left the Government service. Biicklfcy said there was no member of the profession who would have degraded him (Buckley) so much at traitors had done. The.reason of accused being dischargod was, that he could riofc get alongside with the other messengers. Remembered seeing accused at his (Buckley's) room on the nig"»t of the 7th Augusa about 10 o'clock. He came for wages. Knew nothing of the assault until he saw it m the papers. Knew accused well, and was on good terms with him. W. A. Fitzherhert lived at the Hutfc neir Buckley's. Knew accused. Some time m Augustacoused asked permission to go through the grounds, which was granted ; but could not say whether ad-' vantage was taken, of it. Heard of the i assault on Muir on the morning after. Saw accused m town, whor asked withers if he had heard of the assault. Witness had not although the assault had taken place m his own grounda. He asked what had taken place, and Walden said a man named -Mtiir, had been tarred, and! a man named Willis, surveyor, had told him (accused). It was nothing fresh for anyone to go "through witness' grounds when going to Buckley's, as it was a short cut through the Hut*. Charles Millwanl, messenger to the Legislative Council, who some time durv ing August last showed witness a pair of handcuffs. It was before the assault on Muir. No conversation took place as' to what the handcuffs were for. Henry Argyle, servant m the employ of Mr Buckley, deposed to find ingatarpot and brush fit the rear of the . summer house on Mr Buckley's premises, and handed the articles to the police. Constable Hartnett, on duty at the Hntt, said he saw a conveyance m the road on the night of the assault about 7 o'clock. Knew nothing of the assault until the day following. Muir was staying at the Hutt. Tar* pots were, he believed, very numerous at the Hutt. Edward Mclntosh, deposed that he lived at the Hutt, and on the 19th Aue\, saw a cab standing alougside the Hutt road near to the Courthouse. It was 9 o'clock at night. Could not tell the color of the horses, as they had clothing on. Did not know the driver, although he bid him good night . as he passed. , Mv Travers' managing clerk offered a bribe to witness of £20 if he would give such evidence as would convict the eaK driver-. Mr Payne, station-master at the. Hntt was present. \ Mr Buckley here made a sotf.ro voce re? mark regard iris* the offer of Mr Travers' clerk, at which Mr Travers ' jumped up . and asked protection ofttieCoert from remarks made by "A person," as he .called him. Af jer sharp passages Tr,ayvers called Buckley " a vagabond," to which Buckley replied that if it was not for the respect of the Court he would have spoken to Travers, whom he called " a fellah," m a manner m which that " fella?> " would not like. Buckley con t eluded by asking Travers ; to repeat the words oitside the Court. \. - Mr Wardell said he much regretted tue personal ill-feeling dragged into the case, and asked Travers not to make angry remarks, •which brought forth rereplies. Mr Travers said he was simply doing his duty, and was not to he bullied by the opposing counsel or witnesses. ■ E. T. Gillon, editor of the Evening Pout, was called, and objectedto give evidence. Mr Gully, for Mr Gillon, said wit? nssshad no knowledge of the assault be. vond what he had obtained by his pro? fpssional position, and; his reason for re; fits'ng. to" give evidence was one of print, eiplo, and was that any information given to a journalist was absolutely confident • tial, and it was an extraordinary course to call these gentlemen to give evidence as to what they have learnt m their caps- ' city as editors. If t.l»e magistrate ruled against them it would be utterly impospossible for newspaper editors and mana. gers to carry on papers m a proper manner. The opinion held by Mr Gillon was shared by all the leading journalists of the Colony. Mr Gillon said it was not out of disrespect to the Court that he absolutely refused to give evidence, bat because he did not wish journalists to be private detectives and spies. Mr. Gillon was then sworn and deposed — -Knew accused. Declined to say whether he had any. conversation with accused re the assault; certainly had none before. Declined to give any' evidence of what was given him m confidence; knew of no precedent where an editor had been put m the box to give evidence m this manner. The paragraph written m the Post was written from the ordinary town gossip. The case was remanded until Wednesday weak. . . ..:. -