REGINA V. BICKERTON.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 65, 6 July 1876, Page 2

REGINA V. BICKERTON.

TO THE EDITOR 03? THE EVENING MAIL. Sib, —I observe a local in your issue of the 4th instant, wherein is-given the pith of a supposed eloquent address made by the prisoner to the Jury on his trial at'.Dunedin, in which he stated that I had promised to defend him in Dunediu. That statement is untrue. I was retained by his wife to defend him in the Resident Magistrate's Court here only, and the fee agreed on was £25, there being four charges against him, and a prospect of more, and it was understood that in the event of his being committed for trial, I should be paid an additional fee for his defence. " One charge was dismissed, and on three he stood committed. I was four days at the Resident Magistrate's Court, two days at the District Court, I defended two civil cases for him which were heard in the Gaol, I provided copies of the depositions in each case at my own cost, employed my agent at Timaru to get a copy of prisoner's marriage certificate, my clerk's time was greatly taken up in interviews with prisoner, and his wife, for the latter made her abode about my office door like a shadow for weeks after I was retained ; but~ ; although prisoner broke faith with me in not paying the additional fee, I did not desert him. I defended him on two charges, and got him acquitted on one charge in the District Court on technical grounds. I fancy Mr. Bickerton knows he has had the worth of his money out of me : if not, I imagine his previous lawyer is not rolling in wealth, heaped upon him by his late client. The facts show that I was generous and Mr. Bickerton ungrateful. I trust, Sir, you will give this letter insertion, as the local I refer to may create a wrong impression.—l am, &c., J. O'Meagher.