Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1880.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 213, 7 September 1880, Page 2

Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1880.

The gaol inquiry, r which has lasted sufficiently long to become somewhat wearisome, was brought to a close this morning, when Mr Shallc'rais made his statement in reply to the various charges preferred against him, and it now only remains for the Justices to whom the inquiry was entrusted to make their report. It will be seen that yesterday afteraoon, after the case for the prosecution, if it may he so called, had closed, the prisoner Thompson expressed a wish to withdraw the charges he had made, alleging that they bad been exaggerated misrepresentations, and so forth. What he really intended to convey is not quite clear, and we cannot but tbink that the Justices should have requested him to make Feme clearer and more intelligible statement. Nobody cares to know whether he was well or ill advised in making such charges as he chose to bring forward. The question in which alone the public are interested is, are they true? If the prisoner means to say that he has told a pack of lies it would be well that it should be known; if he merely means to txpress regret at having made public the treatment he received, that in no way concerns anyone but himself. We repeat that it is a pity that he was not cross* questioned upon his final statement. The Masonic Hall was crowded in every part last night on the occasion of the entertainment in aid of All Saints' Institute, and the programme being an exceedingly well arranged one, complete satisfaction was given to all who were present. Indeed the enter- \ tainment may be safely said to be one of the most successful of its kind ever given in Nelson.