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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4821, 4 September 1876, Page 2

It is much better for society perhaps that C. E. Haughton has succeeded ia getting away from the consequences of repeating his history here. But that does not prevent its being a very great shame and scandal that he should have got away. The Dunedin police and the Dunedin justices of the peace, most innocently no doubt, have enabled this man to escape, when some wretch of a lower grade would, in similar circumstances, have had to suffer for his misdeeds. It was telegraphed to Wellington some days ago that the police at Dunedin had opposed the granting of bail in Haughton’s case ; but from a report of the proceedings at the Police Court in the Evening Star , it would seem that the opposition was not ©f a very decided character. The justices on the bench were Messrs. Mercer, Black, and McDermid, and on Police Inspector Mallard asking for a remand, in order to permit of the arrival of aa officer from Wellington with a warraut, the following is reported as having occurred Mr. Mercer (after consultation with his colleagues) : I think the better course would be to remand the case to Wellington. Mr. Black : Supposing you get no opportunity of forwarding accused to Wellington within eight days, what then would be the consequence ?—lnspector Mallard : Then he will have to be brought up here again, and further remanded to Wellington. I may state that an officer is now coming down from Wellington with the warrant.—Mr. Moaat asked that bail be allowed. —Mr, Mercer: The Bench, after thinking the matter over, consider that the bail should be doubled.—lnspector Mallard: Obviously the police oppose bail.—ln answer to the Bench as to the power of the police to oppose bail in such cases, Mr. Mouat said that the police had power to object to bail in every case, but it was a matter entirely within their Worships’ discretion. —Inspector Mallard ; I quite agree with what Mr, Mouat says. The matter is entirely within your Worships’ discretion, and is simply one of responsibility.—The Bench were willing to accept bail in accused’s own recognisance of £4OO and two sureties of £2OO each, which were immediately forthcoming,— Before leaving the court, Mr. Mouat explained that he did not appear professionally on the accused’s behalf. Whether the proceedings were taken regularly or not was entirely at the peril of the prosecutor.”