JUDGE RICHMOND ON OFFICIAL PECULATION.

Southland Times, Issue 1142, 6 October 1869, Page 3

JUDGE RICHMOND ON OFFICIAL PECULATION.

l We take the following from Mr Justice , Eichmond'B charge to the Grand Jury at "' Hokitika: — * I hope the day is far distant when pecuUitiou on the part of public officers ' will be shielded in this Colony. But it is ! well to re member that the only safeguard, the true and ultimate safeguard in these cases, is the power of public opinion. If '. there is not purity in that, this Court cannot secure it. In cases of this class, where punishment falls on men really ill 1 able to bear it, upon men whose reputat ions have been good, or even spotless, it 1 not unfrequently happens that, on grounds \ of natural pity and commiseration, attempts are made to ward off, or mitigate the proper consequences of crime. You, k gentlemen, may remember such a case, in ' which, fortunately I may Bay, the attempt L to interfere with the ordinary course of justice was unsuccessful. I say a sound public opinion would condemn such ill- \ judged leniency. That opinion, too, must be brought to bear upon the fountain \ head of political power. It must be prompt and active to condemn corruption in the legislature ; for if your legislature is affected you must expect » your executive and judicial departments will, at no long interval, be affected also. '. This is no fancied danger when we consider the state of other democratic countries, when we look at America, and even at some of the neighboring colonies. Let us secure purity at the fountain bead ; without which it is vain to expect it in the derivative streams. Once admit corruption there, and depend upon it there will be an end of all good government. As yet, I am happy to say, we are safe, and there is very little fear of peculation j in subordinate offices being tolerated. ; "While thus commenting on these cases, and while pointing out the necessity for a stern administration of the law, I should rejoice, and I am sure there is not a man in the community but would rejoice to see these charges successfully rebutted. It would spare us the pain of witnessing the infliction of punishment upon those with whom, perhapp, we have been on terms of intimacy, — of friendship ; and it would free the community from a great social scandal. So, while unrelentingly we should punish the guilty, we should especially rejoice, not at the failure of the Jaw, not at a verdict of " Not proven," but a merited verdict of " Not guilty." But feeling, one way or the other, must not be allowed to influence the determination of the issues — feelings in an English court of justice are banished]altogether — we simply have to apply our understandings to the best of our ability to the consideration of the evidence.