THE STANTON CASE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8902, 23 August 1907, Page 1

THE STANTON CASE.

Application for Leave to Appeal. At the Christchurch Supreme Court before his Honor Mr Justice Chapman, William Stanton (for whom Mr G. Harper appeared), who was found guilty of manslaughter, appeared for sentence. Mr Harper suggested calling witnesses as to character. His Honor said that was hardly necessary, as nothing had eomo out in evidence against the accused’s character, Mr Harper then asked that the fact of ,-jfcanton having a wife and family he taken into consideration. Speaking on his own behalf, the accused said he had a wife who was noble and courageous, and children as courageous as she. To see them on the previous night was heartrending. If the punishment fell upon him alone and no one else he could bear it, but his family would suffer more acutely than he, and he therefore trusted his Honor would make the sentence a lenient one on their behalf. In addressing the prisoner, his Honor said ho was sorry to have to inflict punishment upon a man of apparent respectability, but he could C not avoid doing so. Counsel for the accused suggested the imposition of a fine, but chat would not be at all 1 appropriate. If that were done, it j would go forth to the world that a 1 man who could pay would receive j different treatment to the man who ! could not. His Honor would give the fullest consideration to what had been said, and also to the recommendation of the jury ; but he must, in the interests of justice, inflict a sentence of imprisonment. That sentence, however, would not bo a long one, but no doubt it would fall upon accused as a severe punishment. “ You were acting here,” the Judge continued, “ if not as a medical man, at any rata as a man possessed of skill. These people Greaney j | labouring people—went to you think- [ ing you were possessed of skill to | treat the lad. I do not think you I could have appreciated what the j matter was. No doubt you wished jto treat him humanely. But when a man enters into business to treat | cases about which he knows nothing, the law insists that he shall take the consequences, otherwise there would be no security for the lives and health of the people.” Accused was then sentenced to four months’ imprisonment, it being ordered that he be kept apart from the other prisoners. Mr Harper applied for leave to appeal, on the ground that the verdict was against the weight of evidence. His Honor asked that specific grounds should be stated by counsel or' else put in writing. No grounds were apparent to his Honor at that moment. There must bo some grounds. The matter could be mentioned later. In the meantime . he would make a note of it. | Accused: “ May I speak for one I moment, your Honor ? ” His Honor : “ No, I don’t think so.” A little later hia Honor said if there was any request that accused wanted to make, he would hear it, | although anything Stanton desired Sto say should come through his ! counsel. i On accused being brought back to S the Court, he began to declaim with j considerable vigour ; “ 1 am rot an inexperienced man. 1 have had over fifty years at Home ” At this stage he was moved away, ■ and disappeared to the cells below.