Then and Now

NZ Truth, Issue 1211, 14 February 1929, Page 6

Then and Now

TJISTORY — it is said — repeats itself. 11 It does; even m the annals of unsolved crime and m some cases the dramatis pevsonae. Not a few who listened to the evidence m the Elsie Walker case were wafted back over the gap of seven years to the coronial inquiry into the death of. Francis Edward Jew, of Grey, Lynn (Auckland). That inquest, too, lasted eight days and at that inquest, too, V. R. Meredith, of broad massive dome, appeared for the Crown. Seven years is supposed to mark an epoch m the "ages of man," but they have left Meredith untouched. Certainly as regards agile mental processes he has bested Father Time. ; . Then, as now. he handled a multitude of witnesses; friendly, hostile and indifferent, with the skill of an adroit fencer. Parry and thrust; a quick lunge here; a feint there; and be he never~so tired with temper unfrayed. ', 1 In the Jew case he had a noted recalcitrant witness m the box for two days and his soul must have wearied of, subterfuge; of evasion; and of the 1921 equivalent of ."I don't remember"! But his patience; his urbanity; .his calm 'even tone m cross-examination never deserted him m either case. The finding of the man m the street might be that V.J.M. got nowhere m these -cases, but at least he ..made no false move m the game. Checkmate? . . .Perhaps. But . ■:;■; . ! Fortunately he is— in the best accept-^ "ance of the term — a sport. He would not wittingly aim below the midriff nor would he impugn the referee's decision. And after all the next move— if any— does not rest with him.