The Prisoners Brought up at the Police Court

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2232, 28 October 1886, Page 2

The Prisoners Brought up at the Police Court

Auckland, Wednesday. Oaffery and Pom wore brought before a crowded court, charged with the wilful murder of Robert Taylor, and Liz/io Graham alias dairy with being an accessory after the fact. Mr Napier appeared for Perm and Graham and aaked for bail on. behalf of the female prisoner. He said it would be mercy to adopt this course seeing the privations the girl j had undergone. He believed that bondsmen could be found for her. He believed that the prosecution would admit that they could not sustain any chargo against her, but they would probably urte as a reason' why bail should not be granted, that the girl might get into the hands of friends of the accused, and that many statements she might feel inclined to make would thereby b3 coloured or distorted in their favour. He did' not think this likely, and held that it was not sufficient reason why bail should not be allowed. Mr Williamson said he was instructed by the police to oppose applicition for bail for the girl. Mr INapier had made two reckless statements, one being that the prosecution wonld admit .they had no priraa facie evidence to offer against the girl, and the other that their only reason for keeping her in custody was to use her as a witness against Caffrey and Perm. These statements, were devoid of truth, and he um4 give a denial to them. It would be detrimental to the interests of the prosccutipn to grant bail at the present time. With regard to the health of the girl, the privations that she had gone through, and the whole course of the ' circumstances wont to show that her health was good. Sbe would have good ttoat went in gaol, and there was no reason .whatever for her liberation. Mr Napier ropliei tli.it if his frjend sii«l he was goinjj on with the case and that they had evidence to justify the charge against her ho would nut press for bail, but ho had grounds for making statements, from sources of private information which he was not at liberty to discioso. He was prepared to say th it the police only detained the femalo piiioner in order to get her evidence against the male accused Mr Williamson had not stated the fact positively that they were going to proceed with the case against tho girl and un- , less he did so tlu bone 1 ) ought to gi-.int b lil. Under a-iy circuirsta iv s bail should bo allowed to her. She was not charged v» ith a capital offence, and the chargo against her was not so heinous as manslaughter. The facts of the case were notorious, and it would be absurd to say that this girl was an accessory to the crime of which the men utood charged. His Worship said that uuder tho circumstances he could not grant bail. The case would bo adjourned till Friday week. While the magistrate was speaking, Perm looked acro&s the court and, observing that an artist was engaged sketching his features, allowed an amused smile to pass over his countenance. The ciso was called, and Perm and Caffrey appeared in the dock. Perm came Hr^t and it was noticed that his demeanour had suddenly changed. His gaze fell when he entered the coutt, and when he Jo >ked across at the crowd it was in a furtive manner. Catfrey gazed anywhere but at the spectator^, and several limes turned his eyes upwards toward tho celling, as if he were interested in its height. When the clerk of the court called the name, John Caffrey , his attention was aire-jted, and he quietly but grimly replied, "Yes, sir." Porm looked up at the clerk in answer to his name, and inclined his head in tho affirmative, but did not speak.