The Wairarapa Daily. TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 1885. THE LIBERTY OF THE SUBJECT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 2023, 23 June 1885, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 1885. THE LIBERTY OF THE SUBJECT.

Tub two cases between the Rev. Patter Trkacy and Mr J, P. MoA lister,. which were called on in the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday,, are surrounded with circumstances which, in tjie interests ot the public, cannot be allowed to pass unnoticed. With the caseo themselves \\e have nothing to do. If the wo gentlemen applied epithets to each other that were not complimentary, they had their remedy, which' they sought, and then abandoned by-mutual consent. It was a matter entirely between them j the interest displayed by the public was entirely duo to the curiosity which was excited by the fact that one of the parties was a clergyman, and the other private secretary to the Minister of Justice. But what took place afterwards concerns eveiy man, woman and child in the colony. Mr McAlister received some rough treatment at the hands of two men, who held him till the police arrived, when he was handed over, taken to the lock-up, and kept there for three hours, without having any charge preferred against him, It was only with difficulty that he succeeded in getting bail The arrest was most unwarranted, and was based, wholly and solely on a statement that Mr McAlister had used language calculated to cause a breach of' peace. His detention was equally unwarranted, because there was no charge. Had he attempted to leave, and the police had detained him by force, he wou)d have had good grounds for brineing an action against them for assault. When he left, he should, of course, have gone as a free subject, but in place of that, he had to give substantial bail, so that the arrest

really still attached to him. The suhject is of importance to the public, because acts of this description carry us back to the times when every man carried his life in his hand, and when might was right. Mi\McAlibt6r is the best judge of what he should do under the circumstances, but. in the interests of the public it is necessary that n searching inquiry is made.