THE UNWRITTEN LAW.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 223, 20 March 1914, Page 2

THE UNWRITTEN LAW.

AN IMPASSIONED APPEAL. By Telegraph.—Press Association. . , Gisbome, Thursday. In the Supreme Court, Eau Maiti, for breaking, entering, and theft at Tolaga Bay, was sentenced to two years' reformative treatment. Eustace George Fannin, for arson at Tolaga Bay, received three months' imorisqnment. the sentence being light in view of accused's disclosure of the offence. Michael Mannix was found guilty of shooting with intent to maim. The prisoner, an elderly man, made an impassioned appeal to the jury stating that he had been tormented by false accusations on the part of complainant, and. after consulting a lawyer and finding the law ineffective, was constrained to believe that the only action left him as a poor man was to shoot complainant in order to get him into court and have the case ventilated. He had to stand up for his character, evsi if he hung for it. He knew he wouli have to face a jury and perhaps join the company of criminals, but the mat who would not face these things when his honour wa,s at stake was scarcely a man at all. Mr. .Justice Hosking, referring to "unwritten law," said attempts to rectify grievances by unwritten law ought not to bo allowed to preva". There was evidence that accused was a hard-working man and that the m,ii si ot had not a very good character. They were not called upon, however, 1.1 decide whether accused had n grie'ar.ee, and the fact that he had slut arothcr man was a case for the la.fr tc. step in. Sentence was deferred.