Wairarapa Daily Times. [Established 1878.] MONDAY, AUGUST 28, 1893.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4508, 28 August 1893, Page 2

Wairarapa Daily Times. [Established 1878.] MONDAY, AUGUST 28, 1893.

In our last issue we abstained from all comment on the Le Brand case, ss some intimation of appeal from the decision of the Resident Magistrate had been given. Indeed, we regarded the case as sub judice till wo noticed ouv contemporary freely discussing it, censuring the B.M. and a certain committee of Masterton residents. Possibly our contemporary had some assurance from tbe defendant that the case for appeal would not be proceeded with, or he would not have been so indiscreet as to anticipate the review of the Supreme Court on the decision of the Magistrate. Till we are asiured positively that the appeal is dropped, we will not disouss the legal issues of the oase, but confine ourselves to a few words rsspeoting its moral aspect, It' is alleged against MrHutobison that he was sympathetic with the prosecution, and wo say all honour to him if such were the case At a time when the moral and immoral forces of a community were in conflict, the sympathies of the legal and, to a certain extent, tbe social head of the community ought to be on the Bide of morality. Every man in the oommunity, whose reaped is worth having, honours Mr Hutchison for the firmnesß and decision with which he repressed certain licentious and immodestßUggestions which emanated from tbe defence in his court.

We have a word or two to say about 'the Committee, of which the writer lias the honour to be a member, This Committee ia assailed by our local contemporary, and one member of it is even spoken of as being mercenary. It is currently reported that the property sold by the Proprietor and Editor of our local contemporary to Madame Lb Brand is only paid for by a comparatively small deposit. If this be so, and we shall be only too glad to correct the statement if it be inaccurate, how dare our local contemporary—the balance of whose money depends upon the success of MadameLeßrands business-allude to Mr John Graham as having a mercenary interest in the .affair because bis property is depreciated in value by the ■ very nuisance the Proprietor and Editor of our local contemporary has, let us hope unwittingly, helped to bring about 1 The Committee is not likely to disavow its responsibility in "the late prosecution. It put pressure on the police to lay an information and it is not unlikely to institute further proceedings, It liob traced baok Madame Le Brand's career for a number of years, in various parts of the Colony and is prepared if necessary to produce a masß of evidence respecting it. The Committee, too, is in possession of the names of a number of persons who have had direct relations with Madame Le Brand's establishment aud although, to spare the leelingsofmanyof the friends and relations of these persons, it has forborne to call upon them for public teßtimony.itwilldosoif the exigencies of th'eoause demand it. The Committee in the first instance asked Madame Le Brand to relinquish her establishment. The request was met defiantly and an information was then laid to show that it was serious in its intention to suppress a nuisance which was a menace to society. So long as Madame Le Brand harasses and annoys a quiet and respectable neighborhood, so long will the Committee contiuue its operations. The Committee undertook the oaso entirely on the ground of public morality, has the support of the public and has confidence that it will succeed in the object which it has in view. It is really the defendant and those of her 1 friends who aid. and abet her, who will be responsible for the exposure that may attend further proceedings in this deplorable case. •