A WISE AND JUST JUDGE.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2810, 27 March 1882, Page 3

A WISE AND JUST JUDGE.

Supreme Court in Adelaide recently att old man, aged 83, was indicted on a charge of arson. A trooper deposed to arresting the prisoner and cautioning him. In reply to his Honor as to the caution used, the trooper said that he had said to the prisoner that “ anything you may say will be used against you on your trial.” His Honor then refused to accept the statement made by the prisoner to the trooper. He had just been reading a case that occurred in in England lately, when a learned judge refused to accept evidence in a case exactly similar to the present one. No inducement or expectation should be used to induce a prisoner to make a statement. He had read the ease very carefully. A man in authority had said, “ What you say will bo used against yon.” It encouraged a man to make out a case, and therefore was not evidence. It was the duty of a constable when arresting a man to say, “What you say may or may not he used against yon.” He had made a particular note of that case, and in the present one would follow the English authority and not admit the evidence. The trooper then said that the prisoner had said at the police station to a constable, “ I put the stack on fire.” His Honor—“ What led up to this P” The trooper said he did not know. His Honor asked if the constable was present, and upon receiving an answer in the negative, said he would not receive the evidence. It was most unfair to prisoners, and they mightbepunished in this way most unjustly. When the Crown was getting up a case the prisoners had a right to have every consideration shown them. He then directed the jury _ : t the which was accordingly .wne.

1 We have received a copy of the new map of Timarn and suburbs issued by Messrs •Smith and Boys, surveyors, of this town. • It is far and away the best map ofTimaiu that has yet been produced, and embraces an area of three miles outside the Borough ; showing Washdyke to the north, Wai-iti to the west, and King-down to the south. The suburban townships of Salisbury and Scarborough are also shown, and there are key plans of the Maranni and Brockley suburbs. The map has been compiled with the utmost care; an astonishing amount of labor must have been bestowed upon it, and every one interested in sections in and- around Timarn should lose no time in providing himself with a copy. The map is well mounted on canvas, with rollers. Mr W. P. Stubbs is the agent, and from him copies may be procured.