The Wairarapa Daily. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1882. THE WELLINGTON R.M.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 18 October 1882, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1882. THE WELLINGTON R.M.

The Wellington Press lias recently taken upon itself to revise legal decisions with somewhat unsatisfactory results. • Mr Hapcastle, R.M., has been subjected to rather rough handling in the ; - city papers.; For example, the "Evening ! Post" o( October 7th., referring to a judgment given by this Magistrate in the Botanical Garden case, wrote, as follows :- "But, in the case of the girl, the sentence is a scandalous .and outrageous impropriety, the idea of a young girlof 17 being sent under such'cir-i cu'msta'nces to prison to herd for a' month with all sorts of criminals, to come out marked for life as a gaolbird,' seems simply shocking..".What can have possessed Messrs Hardoastle and Fisher to pass such .a : sentence, and in such indecorous haste, we are at a loss to understand; but it ,is quite certain their action has excited the deepest indignation, We entertain strong doubts whether either the conviction or. the sentence is legal, but even if so, it is extravagant and cruel, while the manner in which the case was 'rushed' through the Court, without any communication with the relatives of the culprits, or the opportunity being affoiW them of obtaining legal advice and assistance, reflects the utmost discredit on everyone, concerned." These are the charges made against Mr Habdcabtle, and singularly enough the reply to them comes from the same source as the attack. The Editor of the "Post" is well-known to be the correspondent of a Southern Journal, and in that paper we read a few days later an account of a Cabinet meetirigon this particular case. " It would not,' writes the cautious correspondent,'." be- discreet to enter into particulars-of that report, but I may say in'general terms that the investigations have'not tended to confirm the original idea that the girl was betrayed by a momentary impulse into impropriety, andwasone whom it would be an act of cruelty to consign to' the contamination of a common gaol. I fear the enquiries made have rather tended "to diminish the fears enter--tained as to her innocent mind bein" in danger of corruption to the extent at first feared, and indeed have rather disposed those who are !in possession jOf all the facts' to • incline towards a jverdict of 'served her right.' The youth never possessed the same degree public sympathy, although in his case also the punishment was thought .too severe'; but here, tod, I understand the result of enquiries instituted has not had'the effect'of inducing the Go- i ;ivernment to- interfere. The upshot of this evening's discussion in the Cabinet IWas that Mmistei-s'decicledin'iavor of allowing the law to take its course, and the sentence to have full effect, on the. ground that no adequate 1 cause had been shown for any interference on the part of the Government with' the sentence of the Court. Consequently both -prisoners will have;to serve their time." In the original charge it will be noticed that a few mild adjectives such as scandalous, outrage6us,;ihdecorous, extravagant," cruel,' discreditable, .'<fcc.,'are : hurled at Mi' - HABDoiBTLE,"who probably is still, in the jeyes of many

Wellington people, a Monster of inif what, couli Hel said; aphsli iiim^j™are{l^n ; thsPbsc, al| ; ti#j<%\besaicl-iin hlfavif^tosenf A Meilquirf offe Gb|&omf hi .a decision that the • sentence passef by tie Court in this instance was a just and proper one, Thegirlwhowas .described' ■bf.our- contemporary*as-a juvenile- simpleton'' committing; ; a first plence.'te on whom maudlin sympathy is misplaced, Had the result of the Government investigation been unfavorable.to Mr Hahdoaotle, we should' riot ;have heard the last of fofor along time,; as it is'favorable" to''him we have to go to; the Middle Island- papers- to get -full particulars of it, : . ~--•:< r : -