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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 103, 1 May 1874, Page 2

At the Wellington Resident Magistrate's Court last week, one John Buchanan was charged^, with hawking without a license. JPplice Sergeant Pi ice said that * Ihe defendant was one of tho most notorious thieves, blackguards and ruffians out of gaol. To his,, own knowledge he had gone under three or four aliases. He had been committed in Auckland twice lately, once turning Queen's evidence. The last conviction was for breaking into a store, for which he got three yenrs. He was tried under the name of Wilson in connection with the Burgess and Sullivan murders, and in short wos a moet dangerous and notorious scoundrel. He bad only been three or four months but **of gaol. — Defendant : That's a nice character, I'm sure — (Laughter.) — Leave having been granted to (he defendant to address the Bench, he did so as follows:—Before I address your Worship, I would remark that I am aware that the man who is his own lawyer has a fool for his client, but I had an insurmountable barrier to surmount in getting legal assistance. — (Laughter.) Sergeant Price has committed wilful and corrupt perjury. — (Laughter.) A lot of superfluous matter has been introduced about my character. lam well aware that when a uumble hisolated unit like me dares to summon a great policemnn he must expect to have an insurmountable barrier to surmount. Supposing I have herred in days gone by, and mind I don't admit I have, am I to be kicked about, and my character made a football of by the police ? If I herred, if I have satisfied the majisty of the law, am I to be dogged and bullied and kicked about for hever ? — His Worship said that although the defendant was making a very fine speech, really it was entirely beside the question, and he must now stop him.