INSINUATIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 November 1920, Page 5

INSINUATIONS.

COUNSEL AND MAGISTRATE,

INFLUENCE ON DECISION ALLEGED. JUDGE REBUKES MR. WILFORD. By Telejnph.—Press Association _ Wanganui, Last Night. During, the hearing of tlie charge of perjury at the Supreme Court against P. Easton, a well-known racehorse owner, this afternoon, counsel for defendant (Mr. T. M. Wilford), in his address to the jury, insinuated that the proceedings should never have been instigated by the Magistrate (Mr. Stout), who, counsel remarked, was a very young man, and who may have been influenced in his decision by interested persons outside the Court. In summing up, Sir Bassett Edwards said he very much regretted that Mr. Wilford, in his zeal for his client, had , made reflections upon the Magistrate which should not have been made. Mr.' Wilford had insinuated that Mr. Stout had instigated the proceedings on account of something he had heard outside the Court. This was a reflection which should not have been made. The position of a' Magistrate was a very onerous one, and he was entitled to ail respect. Mr. Wilford had insinuated that Mr. Stout was a raw boy. Mr. Wilford: No, sir. His Honor: You used the words "very young." Mr. Wilford: Young as a Magistrate, your Honor. I myself appointed Mr. Stout a Magistrate, and I could not have any reflection to make upon him for that reason. His Honor went on to say that there was not the slightest justification for any reflection upon Mr. Stout, who, as all Judges at bad to do. had the painful duty forced upon him of ordering a prosecution for perjury. Mr. Stout had been a barrister and a solicitor of the Supreme Court of New Zealand, and as such was perfectly qualified to hold the position of Magistrate. He at all times carried out his duties without any flummery, and there was not the slightest justification for the reflection which had been made upon him. At a later stage, Mr. Wilford asked His Honor's permission to make amende honorable in connection with the remarks he had made concerning Mr. •Stout. On permission being granted, Mr. Wilford made the following expianr,vior,: "I did not intend in any way to •.vfleet upon the ability, character, or integrity of purpose of Mr. Stout. As Minister for Justice in 1,018 I appointed him to the position he now holds. I ascertained and personally knew his fitness for the position before I appointed him. I intended to convey, in my remarks to the jury, not that he had done any wrong or had acted in any way except judicially, but that young in office as he was he may have been unconsciously influenced by a certain person at Foxton, who had admitted he was on bad terms with Easton, and who was an official of the Court there." His Honor: You insinuate the Magistrate was influenced in the action he took by a policeman at the Court? Mr. Wilford said it was hard to say how far the Magistrate had been unconsciously influenced by an official at the Court at Foxton, who had admitted being on bad terms with accused. "In any ease," remarked counsel, "I have taken the very first possible opportunity of making amende honorable to Mr, Stout."