The Longhurst Case.

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 1015, 30 March 1883, Page 3

The Longhurst Case.

A §PEECH FROM ? THE GOVERNOR. (per press association.) “ WELLING This' day. : A deputation waited on His Excellency at 12.30 to-day presenting a petition for the release of the prisoner L/onghurst. . Among those, present were Messrs C. Jobhston and WV Hutchison, M.’Ht It’s,, his Worship the Mayor; and several well-known citizens. The Hons. Dick .and. Rolleston entered, the room with His-Excellency. , Several, members of' the "deputafibn addressed His Exin which they expressed ■ that such doubt has been thrown upon the prisoner’s guilt that Providence of mercy should step in. The Governor re-plied—-Gentlemen, before referring to the petition which, you have presented, I wish to remark .that, in other places it has been my invariable rule to refuse to receive deputations, having for their objects the influencing of; the Governor or his advisers in matters relating to :action which he or “they; in the.interests of the public, may consider it his or their duty to take Concerning sentences passed- by courts of law. It is therefore, not without some hesitation, ‘thatl'consented to receive the deputation, though taldng all circumstances into consideration, I arrived at the conclusion that it would be advisable to do so. I wish it, however, to be distinctly understood that ray present action is not to be drawn into precedent. , As regards the petition itself, there are some state-.' ments in it the’accuracy of whichilam! not prepared to admit; and there is one: suggestion in it to which I must give; my unqualified denial. I allude to the paragraph wherein it is suggested that; the case of Longhurst was not fully! laid before me before the decision was: arrived at which has already been communicated to previous petitioners. The. fact, is that the : whole of„tbe evidence! given on both trials was printed from: the Judge’s notes. Both the Government and myself were able to Confer; unreservedly with the Judges themselves, and there was the fullest oppor-; tunity afforded to everyone concerned

of deliberately weighing all the circumstances before arriving at ■ a conclusion on the previous petition respecting this distressing case. It appears to me that the present petition, except as regards the statement to which ‘1 have referred, is in the main a reiteration of flie points which have already been advanced, and which !r;hayejpbeen 2 duly Considered. .At the same time I need scarcely say. that . any: new and authenticated facts that may be: adduced shall be fully, . weighed.. Gentlemen, your petition and the representations which you have made shall be most carefully considered, both by myself and by my Ministers,, and:the result of such further deliberations, .shall beicommunicated to you.