THE SHORTLAND CASE. Extraordinary Letter from Shortland. London, July 17.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 65, 30 August 1884, Page 6

THE SHORTLAND CASE. Extraordinary Letter from Shortland. London, July 17.

Tjik Shoriland murder case, which camo to a premature full stop three weeks ago, ha 9 been re-opened by the publication of the following extraordinary letter from Mr Hugh Shortland in the "Western Daily Mercury." Public opinion in Devonshire, I understand, suppoiUi the unfortunate husbandV application foia renewed inquiry. The " Merciuy," icforiiog to the matter in a sub-leadei, hays: — "'Tho death ot this young lady was so mysterious, and the .surrounding circumstances pointed so clearly to foul play, that it w ould be false sentiment on our part to interpose any barrier to their elucidation utder tho pretence that the time lias gwo by. It has been suggested that not ling is to be gained by further investigation. We think that everything is to be gahud. Medical men who have closely \\ cighedthccircumstances, and who have been allbrcbd peculiar opportunities for giving then their attention, havo not hesitated to aasuro us that they aie cominccd that tho deceased neither mot her death by accident nor by the act of her own hand, but that she was in some manner drugged piior te immersion. Mr {Shortland has taken counsel of medical men aho, and lie iinds that they hold tho same views in tint- connection as himself. Ho claims a husband's light to probe this mystery to its depths and he tlucshcs out the various theories adwuiced with marvellous skill, attesting a roinaikable iamiliaiity with Iho export phases oi the question which could only havo been acquired by <i layman whose symmtluehad been \ cry deeply enlisted in the puiMiit, Mr Shoitland is mitmally \eiy anxious tt remove every shred of suspicion that may be aUacherl to him in consequence of lnanesf, and he ycsteiday proceeded U London in older that he may peic-uade tlu Homo Secretary that tho interests of justice icquiio the re-opening ofthe inquesL Wi hope he will .succeed, bccau.se we think the failure to clear up many a forgotten eiiim has been too often associated with the dis inclination of the authorities to proceed or a new track aftei they havo been ballled it regaul to a particular theory." Jleie is tShortland'b letter. Both its manner and matter are eccentric, but con dent?ed into common-sense English, the arguments seem fairly sound— "Sik,— lt is time for mo, and just foi me, to mfoun the public of my thought and action regarding the dreadful death oi my poor wife. As soon after my incarceration as mj physician, Dr. Squat c, would allow, I commenced a most searching inquiry both by day and by night. I I vit-ited every requisite pcr&on and place in any way likely to bo interested. During such investigation, I came across stoitling isolations. Now, in this letter, sir, I shall not entoi into detail. I ha\e in my possession details which would both .si ai tie and pu//le the world. But let me, sir, placo the matter on a bioad ba-is, that there be no detail, no hypothesis, and no hystoiic-. Let us be bold, fair, and honest. Now the basi->-posiLion is this in legal phraseology: "There has never been an honest inquiry over the body of a good and true Enghchw oman." I shall not say much on this point. You all know of it. The inquest was partial, incapable, and — what shall I say? will say — dishonest. We claim, therefore, sir, in our leiral and moral right* an honest inquest over the body of one of our countryfolk. And we will have it. Calling all parties and investigating all circumstances with instruments ot tho best and ablest nature. Detective Koot-s's inquiries were somioihcial and without oath, and diiected in a particular channel Able and :-eaiehingas*thoseinquirics were, they w ore private. Which is to hold a private Treasury investigation or an investigation in an open con it of law. Nothing came to light before the magistiatos. Thc-o well-conditioned gentlemen were natui ally paralysed, so to say, with confuMou born of ignoiauce and incapacity, and weie led by the string of a tempestuous superintendent. Now 1 hold most firmly, after calm and long consideration, I will confess at once that a most accomplished, depraved, and audacious muidcer of tho blackest ilnd vilest villany has been committed. And lor this reason, I am now on my way to tow n to consult the ablest oilicial and non-oflicial personages on the matter. I shall lepresent at the Home Oflice now how and w hy, and by whom, this more than Satanic crime was committed. Why and by whom i shall not now endeavour to indicate or insinuate, but 1 will know tho reason why, and I will move heaven andeaith to bring the murderor to the gallows. The first court boforo which the matter should come, being tho Coroner's Court, is merely investigatory. There there is no accusation, no accused, and no prosecution. All witnesses are there called upon to tell "the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but tho truth," as in a mere investigation. All criminatory matter, per se, is losorved lor a court of. magistrates, where the^nma facie case is made out for assize. But how ? This question 1 will answer at once. By poison. An evanescent vegetable poison may have been administered by way of a draught or otherwise, to tho stomach, through tho throat; or an evanoscont mineral poison may have been administered, by way of perfume or otherwise, to tho brain through the nostrils. There may have been administration in sleep, in weariness, or otherwise, or there may have been administration in awakedness, coaxingly, or otherwise. The poisoned body may have beon carried after death in rigore mortis and placed for awhile in the grotto hidden by trees behind the seat near the pond. The poisoned body may have been at any rate finally placed some time after death in the pond, as found, in the deepest and most convonient water at hand. And be it carefully noted here, once for all, the very late date of the analysis and post mortem examination after decomposd tion had fast set in. And by whom was the post-mortem examination conducted? By " three- learned medical oxperta." And tho brain was never analysed. May there not havo been cuticle poisoning acting on the brain ? For tho impregnable sense and truth of this opinion I ask you to re-read, sir, your report of the inquest.

As to further matters in my possession found in investigation corroborative, 1 must as vet observe silence. This is necessary, as you can well understand, sir, move by policy than by duty, or el«e wo .should bo providing a general brici. I will now at once endeavour to thrash into powder the suicide theory. Mind, sir, I do not onco in this letter dwell on details, strong though Ihey be, but 1 remain throughout upon broad grounds. Against the suicide theory wo have : — Ist. No appearances of any external struggle or distuibancc on apparel, person, or on surrounding ground or mud, &c. 2nd. No appearances of drowning (posture and nature, &c). 3rd. No motive (well, happy, contented, occupied), vide the inquest. 4th. No evidence? (no farewell letters, no coinersation, no attitude, &c.) sth. No disposition, mental or j hysical (robust and courageous), remember outof history Cleopatra's case, merely as to its general lemons. Consider every point. ° 6th. Noheicdity. 7th. (ienoia!' health and «igo against same. (Vide tlie inquest. ) Now as against the accidental theory : 1. There was no attempt at an easy escape by the sloping bank? of the pond to the light and to the left of the partial stonecoping. 2. Thci o aie no appearances or drowning (posture and nature). \\. Theic aie no appearances of external struggle or disturbance on apparel, person, or on neighbouring ground and mud, ike. Now as to the heart disease, catalepsy and sincope, and otherwise theory. I will undertake single-handed to thrash them into powder at a proper date. To do -o now would be to supply, as I have indicated belore, ignorant, incapable, cunning, and criminal minds with mental pabulum. And so too of the current whirlpool theory in a stagnant pleasme pond of no great* depth and still transparency. But granting that my opinion on the matter, though "k>L mod after long and deep practical .xs \sell as theoretical examination, may have .-omc bias upon general grounds, lot "me tell jou, sir, that these my opinion*, aie not unendowed, but that at their back aie names ot the ablcat and acutct type-*. A- to honesty, sir, such a question exclude-* every phase of dishonesty— e\ en the conceit and "vengeance and :-o forth to which we aie all .so humanly pronu. Its nature and it^ isMicsaioof the most a* in], n,iy, tiomcndons consequence^. But theio is a thing- as a just vengeance, in the di.-play ot which our individual conceit.-, are liable to gain the upper hand. I ask you more than onco to ponder heavily over these tilings, ltc-rcad your inquest leport with tho greatest care and >hrewdnehS. Add to. Take trom. Consider my motive character, conduct, and action and so forth, wherever thou wilt. Come to b>-oad conclusions. Be not misled by tho shimmering quirks of pseudo lawyers, doctors, and scientists, be they admitted, or be they unadmitted. Judge as a man. As a man ot the world -boldly, fairly, and bravely. Not paraonically, nor hysteiically. But whatever you say, sir, say truly and say boldly. At a light date, if desirable, I will clearly point out why ] married, uhen and how 1 did, why I did not take my poor wite to New Zealand with me, while 1 delayed in perdu for a few weeks at " Brindisi Cottage," unknown to my poor wife, and -v\hy I did not appear at my poor wife's inquest and funeral. And then perhaps as to my absolutely illegal arrest, commitment, and lomand, based upon the spirit of our common law. (a) No arrest, commitment, or lemand without proof of crime. (b) When proof of guilt and innocence is equal the law favours innocence. ( ( ) There is a presumption of innoconce in favour of all persons, Aacl toitih'ed by circumstances such a^ these there was no proof. (a) That I had not just returned to Brindisi Cottage from Brindisi or elsewhere. (b) That the Brindisi letter 'was not actually written at Brindisi. No proof, mind, I say. Bat these are matters of insignilicant personal importance in the face of our paramount consideration. They may by-and-bye, for aught I know, give life to criminal actions, but assuredly not to mercenary civil actions. To win gold over such a distressing and toirible calamity is, as it wore, to covet money fiom the grave. Nothing so loath^ame and nothing so ominous— to gain grave money. I have said. I caro lc&s than naught, sir. 1 need hardly remind you, in concluding in the words of an eminent mind, " for scribbling and gossiping wretches ot insignificant and impotent twaddles, solf-pcstored with diseased temperaments, full of disgusting jaundice and polluting bile." But only, indeed, as I have said to thomselvos. They have but the brain of the flea. They have but the heart of the cur. And truth and justice ever but prevail. I say truly and I say freely that my poor wife and I loved and respected one another deeply and purely, and it 1 have committed any single error of judgment involving blame under the most sudden and painful and diilicult circumstances it is in my love and thought and care for her. Such costs the mind mental and physical unselfishness, so to say, of the most cutting anguish. Friends and acquaintance can tin.™ testify. For hers was one of those rarely amiable and unselfish dispositions, full of simple, good, useful, and true life. Indeed, she was the possessor of a golden disposition, bright and lovely, and illustrated by a most comely face, figure, and manner. In hcr^Wicre seemed to be a most perfect blending of mind and soul, nothing but what wad holy and noble. I have been rent to the hairs' root and to the heart's core, and if it were not so, were I a man ? Therefore, be gentle with me in a profound mental and physicial lifo.agony. do not judge from your arm-chair, with a drawing-room wave of the hand, and export facts. To do so is to be guided by sentimental effeminacy, and not by sensible justness. But, sir, I contend most firmly— if you say and say on— that I have not committed any error in judgment. I will give you, sir, in conclusion, a Latin motto, and applicable, and you shall give me one in return, at my own hands. For you — • Audi alter am yartem priusquam, ' (Hear the whole defence first.) As yet my proof and defonco have not been put in. For me — ' Obscquium amicos veritas odiim parit.' (Obsequiousness makes friends, truth hatred. ) Horace speaka to you, Terence to me. Upon broad grounds, sir, 1 do not care a flip for friends. I want tho truth, the whole tiuth, and nothing but the truth, come what may, cost what it will. And -where crime has been committed with impunity both you and I must not only ask but demand right and justice. We will claim it, sir, loudly and persißently with equal rights as citizens,

calmly and justly . BuLlclaim il furthor ] us a husband in a man nor which I have neither the ability nor the control in defmc. Jam exhausted. My tongue refill >to give ieopon.se to my brain. But wo .'iflc for the rights oi nn Engli&h Court of inquiry, and not for u Treasury Minute. Such is a gross usurpation of liberty on the part of the Government. \Yo do not question its faith or ability. Wo caro nothing for evil precedent. We plead for a righteous principle- In a word «< JFiab Ju&titia ac Publicc." Or, more simply, in tho words of Aristotle, " What is justice, countrymen ? To give to everyone right."— Allow me to be, fir, youus faithfully, Iliroir' Siiortland. Millbay Railway Station, Plymouth, July 7th, 1884.