LATEST TELEGRAMS.

Patea Mail, Volume I, Issue 53, 13 October 1875, Page 3

LATEST TELEGRAMS.

(Per Press Agency.) WELLINGTON.

October 6,

The criminal sittings of the Supreme Court terminated last night at II o’clock, when Eliza Smith was acquitted of perjury, after three days’ trial, during which the most barefaced perjury was committed. Buckley, who defended the girl, in addressing the jury, said the present case had arisen out of criticisms by a portion of the Press, after the conclusion of Cameron’s trial and his conviction last session for rape on this girl Eliza Smith. This case, he said, was practically another trial of Cameron for rape as the prosecution attempted to prove-that the offence had never been committed. A man called Jeffs, a seedsman, was the principal prosecutor. His conduct, he told the Court, was actuated by “ strict moral principles.” Of his evidence, Mr Bnckley said that Jeffs and Mrs Cameron (wife of the convict) had for weeks concocted this case ; that Jeff’s evidence was contradicted in every point, and was so utterly contemptible that it could not be credited. The Chief Justice, in summing up, said, “With reference to Jeffs, his evidence was unsatisfactory, and, whether from design or inadvertence, he had given evidence at variance with facts.” After the jury had given a verdict of “ not guilty,” his Honor directed certain of the witnesses for the prosecution to be brought before him. He told them that lie had the power to commit them all for trial for perjury, bqt he would leave it to the Crown to decide with regard to them. His Honor concluded by saving he feared that the foolish observations'of some ignorant writer in the Press had a great deal to do with this prosecution ; the sentence pa -sed on Cameron for rape.' instead of being too heavy, was far too light.