The Wairarapa Daily MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1889. The Case of Joseph Ward.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 3381, 9 December 1889, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1889. The Case of Joseph Ward.

The case of Joseph Ward is regarded with some special interest in this district, partly because of tho surprise verdict in the Supremo Court, but more particularly because the offence which constituted it was committed lioro, and the man himself was tolerably well known amongst us. He had, we understand, once occupied a respectable position in society, held a responsible situation, and lived an unblemished life with his family. Then the demon drink slowly but insidiously gained an ascendancy over him. His situation was lost, his liomc broken up, and he travelled about tho country earning sufficient to satiate tho evil appetite wliioh possessed him. The last fall was the criminal conduct for which he was recently arraigned. That ho was guilty of a serious offence against society js generally admitted, but the jury, rocogulsiiig tl)at olroumstaps, had prevented him from the actual committal of a crime which he evidently meditated, let him down easily, and by so doing incurred tho displeasure of the judge, {t in now claimed that though the verdict given wan unreasonable, the direction of the judge to tho jury was obscure,

and the Evening Post suggests that the Chief Justice ought to retire on a pension. We aro not sure that it would not be wiser to got rid of a jury that olearly gave a wrong verdict than of a judge who as oertainly held a right view of the case. However, though it may be possible to

pension a judge, it is impossible to pension a jury. Juries are ono ol the bulwarks; of our constitution, and assist materially in making the glorious uncertainties of our laws still more insecure In nineteen oases out of twenty the ruling of a judge is absolutely trustworthy, but the samo measure of infallibility does not attend the decisions of juries. Tho Joseph Ward case will no doubt servo to bring under tho notice of the Government and of the Legislature an alleged infirmity on tho part of tho Chief Justice and a glaring inconsistency on tho part of a jury. It will serve another good purpose if it also suggests how defective our criminal code is in reforming or restraining a dipsomaniac, Physicians tell us that dipsomania is a disease, and if this be the case neither a month nor a year's- imprisonment would be likely to effect a cure, A still harder and more formidable punishment, the lash, might bo made to act as a deterrent, but the tendency of civilisation is antagonistic to punishments of such a character. Tho case of a dipsomaniac is ono that evidently needs curative rather than punitive treatment, but as the law now.stands no provision is made to meet it, only the crirmj which accompanies the fuller development of the disease can be taken into consideration, In some advanced communities _ endeavors Ihjvb been made to provide retreats in ivlijoh tho dipsomaniao may take rofuge, or to which he may bo compelled to retire when hois'ijo longer fit to brat large, Theft attempts

to deal with one of the maiu faotois of-crime have, as yet, been but partially successful, but they'have been movements made in a' right direction and they will undoubtedly help to bring about the result whioh they seek to obtain. At presont the only protection society has from the dipsomaniaois his imprisonmentwben his sad career is arrested by the commission of a crime Wo should bo glad to think that the month's hard labor assigned to Joseph Ward will serve to make a new man of him, but physicians would probably hold that neither it nor a much longer terra would bo likely to eradicate the disease. His offence was a horrible one, but it was probably the outcome of the madness of dipsomania rather that premeditated villainy.

Copies, of the Crown Lands guide, corrected to November 1880, can now be obtained,at tho Grown Lands Office free of charge Tho Frisco mail steamer arrived at Auckland at ono o'cluck on Saturday.

Mr Sparksman, of Parkville has obtainod tho contract for tho formation of tho approach to tho new bridge.

The death'is announced of Jefferson Davis, at the age of four score years, who for tour years was provisional President of tho Confederate States of America.

Mr W. Kenny is making rapid progress with his road contracts at Newman (W. S.S., No 1). Settlers will soon be abloto drive through to their rural sections. A married man is wanted for the country, to milk three or four cows and attend to a garden. Particulars can bo obtained at this office,

The installation of the Eight Worshipful Master and investiture of officers of tho Thistle Lodge 647, S.C. takes placo at the Masonic Hall, Banuistcr Street on Woduesdpy evening next.

Hoy, W, Ro(vse,(if Masteiton proachod at the Wesleyan Church, Eknlahuiia on Sunday last, borh morning and evening and also at Newman In the afternoon. Tho rev, gentleman is announced to lecture at Ekotahuna, this (Monday) evening.

A statuo of tho late Bov, Hugh Stowell Brown, tho well-known Baptist minister and at one tituo President of the Baptist Union, was unveiled in Liverpool on Ootobor 25, in front of the chapel whore he officiated for many years, The statuo has been orocted by public subscripts at a cast of £1,200. The uuvoilin;; w . performed by tho Mayor. Though tho name of Daniel Lambert has become a synonym tor obesity, very few people know how much ho weighed. When he died in 1809, at the ago of 40, his weight was 52st lllbs, The coffin, with his body in it, could not bo brought down tho stairs of tho houso in which he died, and the wall at the sides of the window had to bo broken away to permit of its being taken out. A meeting of the Ekefcahuua Cvickot Olub was held on Saturday evening to discuss an invitation to play at Mauricevillo next Friday It was found that several of tho players would bo unable 10 sjet away on that day, ol a team could not bo not togethor. Tho Secretary (was instructed to write to Miinricevillo I Btatin? this aud also asking the MauriceI villo men to como to Ekotahuna on

Saturday noxt, the i3th instant, A vote of thanks was passed to the ladies, whose efforts so materially aided the success of the late ball. A sudden'death oocured during' Divine Service at St Poter'B Church, Colchester un Sunday evening, Octcbor 13, Whilo tho vicar, tho Itov, 11. Caddell, was reading tho Second Lesson a young woman named Parsons, coughed violently, and immediately fell forward, blood gushing from her mouth and nostrils. She was carried into the vestry, but died just as she entered it. She had been late for service.and had hurried up tho hill loading to tho church. The exertion appears to have hurst a blood vessol,

Up to the present the number of on-

tries for the Championship Amateui

Athletic Mooting aro: Sow Soul Wales, 4 ; Canterbury and South Cai

terbury, 3 ; Wollitif ton, 2 ; Hawkos Cay, 2; Auckland, 8: Southland and Otago, 14. The New Houtii Wales men arc hard at work traini'ig. Tho well-known AbboUford estate, at the Taieri, was sold by unction in lots tho other day by Wright, Stephenson and Co, Lot 1,12 acres ; realized £ 2B os per acre; lot 2, same area, .£25; lot 3, ?2 acres, £3l, Homestead block, 349 acros, realized £M per acres, 150 acres, all in oats, next to it, fetching £2(1; other lots were passed in at £24 per aero.

At five o'clock, yesterday afternoon, information was taken to tho Police Station that a woman living about a mile out of Masterton had attempted to commit suicide by cutting her throat with a razor, An officer was immediotcly sent to the scene and found that a somewhat notorious character named Mrs Gondgame wassull'ering from the efforts of drink. She was at her home and had got hold of au old blunt razor, and whilst throwing hor arms about in a wild fashion with the open weapon in her hand had managed evidently unintentionally to indict a slight wound on her left fore arm from which .'.he blood flowed pretty freely, ijuinu ot tho sangnnwry fluid bavin? wit on her face and neck gave tho persons who saw hor

tho inipreßSK.il that slie had cut hei throat, tho idea being Btrengthonod by

wing tho dangerous Mi'Hi! w. capon in her possession. They did not stop to' ascertain the exloDt of the injuries, but immediately ran fir the police and doctor. Tho wound was dressed, a caution admistored, and the poor violin) to dram drin|mg loft to sleep herself sober,

One of tboße who took part in the famcus charge at Balaclava passed away

on Octobor 11, after a brief illnesß. The deceased was Sergeant-Major John Breeze, of Her Majesty's Body Guard who, at tho time of his death, and for many years previously, resided at Marlow Villa, Park Road; Battersea. Ho was picked up, when quite an infant off the mouth of tho Tyne in the year 1819, having been found lashed to a spar. The rescuer was the captain of a coasting vessel, named Dixon, who adopted him, and gave him tho name which he bore. At the death of his benefactor, the deceased pajno toLfmdim, mid, after serving in various civil capacities, onlisted in the 11th Hussars, in the year 1841. Ho remained with tho rcgimont and proceeded with it to the Crimea, being present at tho battle of Alma. He also took part in the Charge of the Light Brigade, under Lord Cardigan, through which ho escapod unhurt, but at, tho Battlo of Merman his right arm was shot away.

Our millinery 'showroom has boon tho scene of much activity since tho season commenced, and has been thronged from day to day by ladies wliq knew that the most ologa.nl, becoming and graceful fashions wore to bo had at the Wholosole Family Drapery Warehouse, To Aro House, Wellington, ' Wo have an excellent choice of trimmed hats, in white, .cream, black, and all colours; we have every fashionable variety of shapo, aud ovcry lady who but glveß a glance at our millinery window will sco that for genuine taslo and moderate prices wc are without compoors, at, To Aro House, [Wellington. Wo have a lot of untrimmed picnic hats, specially imported for this purpose and for garden wear, from2|d to 2s each, and a nice lot of the samo description, trinmred, at 2s lid and 7s lid each, at Te Aro House, Wcllngton. We havo also an abundance of flower trails from Is to 7s U \ of Oowor sprays from 3d to Is 6d| of unmounted flowers of all kinds indeed as regard flowers generally, we have the larsest aud most fashionable stock in the city at Te Aro Houso, Wellington, Altogether, our millinery department, just now,' is very attractive, and would tuiip); repay a visit of inspection. Wo can oweuteili orders promptly and mostartißdually, afld taaririiee w|iat Is &bt&ir>ed nowhore else m the oily, completd''satisfaotion, at the Wholesale Family Dmpny W«eMsty Te W Houift,.TOfeHrftn,AjW.''

Tho stalion-nuatei's on the Vlotorian railwaya aro to bo uniformed at a cost 0f.£10,000.- :

jit is calculated that flax will fignro ia our list of exports this year as worth nearly £460,000.. . ;

Tho Victorian Government think of appointing a royal commission to deal with the charitable institutions,

The 8.8, Kaiser Wilhelm, the largest merchant vessel that has visited Australian waters, arrived at Sydnoy tho other day. A branch of the Luuinor's Union is about to be formed at Wangairai, and a. preliminary meeting wan hold on November 28..

The Hon Captain Eussell will occupy the residence in Tinakori Road, Wellington, formerly occupied by Sir Julius Yogei. . The clergy of the Presbyterian Church inOtagoaro preparing to npon another campaign on tho Biblo m Schools controversy.

Messrs M. Oaselberg and Co have a seasonable notice in another column, Thoy have a large shipment of jam jars and Masoii's improved screw top preserv-

ing jars. Moinbera.of the M»stertou Cricket Club hold a good practice on the Park Oval on Saturday afternoon, Players aro requested to turn out for practice overy evening this week.

The statutory meetin? of the Waivavapa North County Council for the purpose of electing a chairman takes place oh Wednesday next, The ordinary monthly meeting of the Council will be held on the same day. A meeting of persona interested In holding a Jubilee Celebration in Masterton, will be held in the Occidental Hotel, to-morrow ovoning to discuss the best method of carrying out thu Bamo.' Notica of a poll ia given by tho Wairarapa North County Council on a proposal to raise by way of loan, the sum of £2500 for the _ purpose ot metalling the Tiraumea section of the Eketahuna-Teuui Hoad, Messrs Lowes & lorns .aunounce tho sale of the following .privileges at their rooms for Saturday next,- Wairarapa Caledonian Society, Mastorton • Opaki race meeting, and Amalgamated Friendly Societies gathering, They also publish a list of the entries for their next stock sale for Wednesday December 18th. An important discovery of a seam of black coal, first class in 'juality and four feet six inches wide, without a flaw, is reported from Foster, in Victoria, Thomas Brookor, while bathing at liamore, New South Walos, on a recent Sunday, sustained injuries while diving, whicli proved fatal tho following daj, The Southland News says:-The farmers are jubilant at the great quantity of grass that'is coming on this.season, and so bringing up the supply nf milk at our dairy factory to nearly 1700 gallons daily, The new Victorian loan of £4,000,000 is to bo used for railway construction, , irrigation works, and the water supply of Melbourne and country districts. ; Mr Eastlako, chief officer of tho H.M.S. Kaikoura, loft that ship on . Nov. 28. having been appointed Marino J Superintendent at Hockhampton for tho I'fysorlino,

Tho Government of New South Wales announce 'that they aro prepared to receive proposals for the establishment ill tho colony of a first-class firm of locomotive builders. It is estimated that a capital of £125,000 would bo required. AtManaia (Wnriganui) diphtheria is prevalent to such an oxtont that the public school has been closed for a month taking ' Decembor instead of January for its summor months, Mr John .Farrell, editor of a paper published in New South Wales in the interest of the singlo tax party, has arrived in Dunedm, with the view of making arrangements iu connection with tho approaching visit of Honry George.. Fine sport is at present being enjoyed at tho Wanganui river in Mailing with rod and line for kawliai.. It is said that this kind of angling is quito as good as salmon fly fishing, and for tho last week sevoral hundreds of Gab have been caught,

Mr Gillies has informed tho Victorian Parliament that there is in tho Treasury a caih balance ot £1,238,897, and when advances made out of the revenue account had boen recouped the country would bo in' an oxcellent financial condition.

The Stewards of tho Wairarana Jockey Club met at the Marquis of Normandy Hotel, Carterton, on Saturday, Mr John Drunimond in the chair. It was decided to hold a single day's racing on the 21st February, A programmo was drawn up to include four hack races and four handicaps, with prizes amounting to £230. The following is the programmo in full:—Hack Hurdla Handicap of £2O, one milo and quarter, Moroa Handicap of £3O, three-quarter of a mile, Maiden Hack race £ls, seven furlongs, Wmrarapa Cup £7s,one and a half miles, Handicap Hack to, £ls, ouo milo and a distance, Jubilee Handicap, £35, one and a quarter miles, Consolation Hack Handicp, J2lO, three-quarters of a milo, Grand Stand Handicap, £25, one milo.

The Lyttolton Times understands that tho Government, having proved their right to seizure of goods if misdescribed, and indicated their intention as to tho strict enforcement oi the Customs laws in the future, havo decided to releaso all goods at present-under seizure in Ohristchurch on payment of tho oxtra duty and oxpenses incurred by tho department.

a man named William Elliott at tompled to commit suicide by jumping from the Victoria Street bridge Melbourne, Into the Yarra, He was rescued by a blacksmith, and lodged in the lockup. Whilo there ho made a second attempt to kill himself by battering his head against the wall Typhoid fever is on tho increase in Victoria, The number of cases in tho colony roported to tho Coutral Board of Health for the past week (November ' 25) was 41, or equal to the numbor for tho provlons fortnight, The number of ' oases of diphtheria for the week was 49, 1 of which 13 wore fatal. The numbor of ; the previous fortnight was 03 cases, with ' U deaths, ' As two ladies wero driving into 1 ; Alastorton on Saturday in a dog-cart and ' Hearing St Patrick's Church the horse Buddenlv fell and ono of tho fair ocoup--1 ants of the vehicle was pitched out and ■ received a rather severe contusion on 1 the face. Tho othor lady jumped out 1 and escapod unhurt. Dr Beard was \ fortunately in the neighbourhood at tho ' tinio and dressed tho wound, and tho "_ ladies, though numoivhafc shaken wero ; able to continuo thotr journey. Prinoo Luolen Bonaparto,itis reported [ has succeeded quito, unexpectedly to« \ fortune of £30,000. The story of tkis windfall may bo fairly described as a , romance In 1824,10 rd Dudloy Coutts- : Stuart, son of tho first Marquis of Bute, and "M.P, for Arundel at tho time of tho • ltoform Bill, married Christina Ale-xan. 1 drino E«ypta,'daughter of Lucion Bona- ' parte, Princo of Canino. Lord Dudley ' Stuart died in 1854, having survived the Princoss aovon years. For many years | hor only son, Mr Paul Amadous Franois Coutts-Stuart,hadled the lilo ofarcoluso in Brompton, unknown and almost torI gotton. Ho recontly died, and a solicitor 1 oalled ono day at Norfolk Terrace and i informed Princo Lucien that his nephew 1 (whom ho had never seen) had bequeathed him tho whole of his pro. ' petty. Good news from Welhngton,and quite , true, youcan got a splendid harmonium ' from L 5, piano or organ from LIB, i organ with divided octave couplars all > in solid black walnut cases from Jjl7. > This beats all the cheapest houses hi , town. Pianos tuned for 7s, or by the j year four visits LI, travelling expenses added.' All kinds of musical instruments , tuned, cleaned, and repaired, new reeds J put in accordeans, Concertinas, harmoniums, and organs; also liberal oxi , changes made. Any instrument may be 1 purchased'on the time payment system from 2s 6cl per week. Call and ex- • change your old piano for a new one at • j?,J Pinny's Musical Instrument Depot, " Mannjsrs-etreot, Wellington. (Sole agent'''of the celtbriitsd • Worcester " organs,)-*^

J t the Christchurch Court two Justices ruled that a flaxuiill is a factory, and boys employed thereat must be given a half .holiday on Saturday. 'Among the Japanese curiosities lat e 'y imported into Sydney is what tho pup ol ' B oall " A carved figure of tbo devii" au posed to bo 300 years old. Tho Victorian Prosbytoriau Assembly has approved of a now scheme ot missionary training. Tho sum .ot £60,000 has been promised to tho Jubilee fund. Messrs G. S. AV. Dalryample and EMoEwen wero duly nominated for the office of councillor for tlio. Borough, of Mastcrton. A poll for tho election of one councillor from tho two candidates nilltako place on Thursday December 19th. According to the World, there is no truth in the statement that has just gone the round of the press to the effect that there existed something likoan estrangement betwoon T. K. H. the 'rinco of Wales and the Duko of Edinburgh, in consequence of umbra»e taken by tho latter at the marriagoof the Prmcoso Louise with Lord Fife. As it happened tho Duko of Edinburgh spent Sunday, the day after his arrival at! Balmoral, with his niece and her husband at Mar Lodge, and his relations with the Duke of Fifo are, and always havo been, thoroughly cordial, Tho Emperor and and Empress of Russia and the Empress Frederick have also shown special marks i of affectionate courtesy to the newiyi wedded couple. It iB prophesied that tho advent o : an i Islam Saviour will happen m the year 1890. _____ v_■' -