ECHOES FROM THE CAFE.

Waikato Times, Volume XX, Issue 1652, 6 February 1883, Page 3

ECHOES FROM THE CAFE.

Almost everyone has been talking about Mr Justice (Ullies's charges to the jury hi the two cases at the criminal sessions of the Supreme Court in which the public interest mainly centred — the trial of Mia Hamilton and Priestly for the murder of the husband of the female prisoner, and the trial of \V. W. Gudgeon for a criminal assault on Mrs Ehrenfiied. In both cases it was very apnaicnt that the judge had made up his mind as to m hat the verdicts of the juries ought to bo before the e\idence was taken, and in both cases lie lan directly counter to puhlio opinion. In the Hamilton case he, to all intent, directed the (iiand Jury to find "no bill." When they disregarded his diioction, and the case came before the common jury ,_ he seemed to consider himself in the light of a special advocate for the defence. Throughout the proceedings his object seemed to be to thwart the Crown Prosecutor, and to assist the counsel for the defence. His summing up of the case was in that direction also. lam not going to say that the jury did not return a verdiot in accordance with the evidence, I believe that they did— that there W3snotsuftlcientevidenco to warrant them in convioting the accused, and that they discharged their bounden duty in bringing in a verdict of " not guilty !" What I do say is that the judge did nob hold the scales of justice with that impartial hand which we have eTery right to expect — that he had made up his mind that the prisoners should be acquitted, and used his utmost endeavour to attain that end. •*• In the Gudgeon case, on the other band, he had as 'evidently made up his mind that the prisoner was guilty, and he did his best to induce the jury to return a verdict to that effect. In the Hamilton case lie refused to allow certain letters to bp put in as evidence becauso they had not been produced in the Police Court. The Crown Prosecutor stated that he had said in the lower court that those letters would be produced, and there are plenty of credible Witnesses who can prove the. correctness of lub statement, but,, because they were not produced, the judge decided that they were not adnrissable as evidence. In the Gudgeon case, on the other hand, a material witness, who had not 'given evidence in tbe Police Conrt, was permitted to do so at the SupWme Court. This may be law, but it h not justice. The 3udge, in his .summing up, <:practically ' • directed l the jury to convict Gudgeon. They, however, remembering that they > were s"wbrn\to give their verdict according to the -evidence, acquitted! the accused. The large! crowd of disinterested persons who I thronged the, Cotttt: gave veto' to' theft approval of the manly and independent way in which /tlwjury had performed, j

their duty by a spontaneous and hearty: cheer. Of course, the judge resented this improppr conduct, and ordered the doors of the Court to .be closed' and the names of the offenders to be taken. The general opinion is .that no further action will be taken iivthe matter, as, Were the 1 offenders punished, the result would probably be the retirement of Mr Justice Gillies, if not from the Bench, at any rate from this judicial district. ■ The regatta on Monday, fortunately took place without any, serious casualty occurring. It' \vas as successful as it could be, considering that there was very ■" little wind, some of the races being little < more than drifting matches. However, as nothing is an unmixed evil, the lack of wind, which was unfavourable for the sailing races, caused the rowing events to pa9s off very well, and prevented boats being capsized, with possible loss of life,. A friend of mine was very much amused by receiving the information that the regatta was to be held in the domain. I may as well say at once, for public information, that such was not the case, as the regatta was held in the harbour as usual. In all probability the person "who made the statement "mixed those babies up" — confounded the regatta with thesportsheld in connection with the Eight Hours' Demonstration. Appropos ot the eight hours' movement, I noticed a letter in the Star which I thought very pertinent. The wiiter tells the leaders of the movement that they should practice what they preach. He says, " Remember that there is no more necessity to work behind a counter after certain hours than there is to carry bricks and mortar." It is an undeniable fact that the very people who clamour for only eight hours' labour for themselves are those \\ ho compel the assistants in shops to work twelve to fifteen hours, or even longer. A deputation from the Trade and Labour Council waited on one of our leading tradesmen some time ago to ask him for a contribution towards their funds. He refused, on the ground that the working classes were the people who compelled his assistants to work long lioius. He told the delegates to try to shoi ten the hours of his assistants by doing their shopping early on Saturday, and that he would gladly contribute to their funds. One of the delegates naively informed him that he always had a stioll down town on Saturday evenings and that lie would not enjoy it if the shops weie not lighted. That delegate was a fair sample of his class. They insist upon short hours for themselves, but have no compunction about making others work long houis — in order that they may enjoy their Saturday night stroll. iff Z *• It seems that the Australian cricketers may " put up the shutters," and write up the word " Ichabod " in very large letters over the door. After their series of brilliant victories in England they have suffered two crushing defeats on their own ground at the hands of a visiting team— that captained by the Hon. Ivo Bligh. The Englishmen seem to be very much elated by their victory and have issued a challenge to the best team that the colonies can produce. Here is a splendid chance for our Mr Beale to distinguish himself. He has everything to gain and nothing to lose. Let him accept the Hon. Ivo TBlisjh's challenge, get together that wondertul team of his which ' ' astonished the natives" on the West Coast, and endeavour to defeat the Englishmen. If he fails it will be no disgrace, as the English team have beaten one of the strongest teams that Australia can put into the field, while, if he succeeds, he will gain a crown of glory which will be so brilliant that he can safely retire on his laurels, and refuse to play cricket any more. To the Englishmen I would say, had I the chance, " Remember that pride raes befoic a fall." * ■* At the ci\ ii sessions of tho Supremo Coiut wo had a novel experience — two di voice suits. I must admit that Ido not like divorce suits, with their objectionable, and often disgusting evidence, but, seeing that such tilings must be until we get \ cry much nearer to the state of millenul goodness, I think that our Legislature acted very rightly in so altering the law that those suits maj' be tried at tho ordinary sessions of the Supieme Court, instead of compelling people to incur the large expense of taking them to the Court at Wellington. The consequence is that, if a man or woman, who is not wealthy, has proper grounds for obtaining a divorce, he or she may attain that object without being ruined by the expense of doing so. St. Mungo.