Evening Post. FRIDAY, JULY 5, 1878.

Evening Post, Volume XVI, Issue 159, 5 July 1878, Page 2

Evening Post. FRIDAY, JULY 5, 1878.

The trial of William O'Conwor yesterday on a charge of attempting to poison William Light presented some features which make the case one of the most extraordinary on record. That a man should take up his abode j at a hotel, stay there three weeks, get on friendly terms with tbe landlord, and then avail himself of the opportunity of taking a parting glass to attempt to poison his host, without any reason or motive whatever, appears almost incredible. Yet, according to the evidence for the prosecution that is exactly what O'Cownor did. The poisoning was attempted in a manner which made detection practically certain. Two glasses of whisky were placed upon the table, one being for Mr. Light and the other for O Connor. Mr. Light was for a minute called away, and on coming back observed that something bad been placed in his glass, there being crystals adhering to the side and a sediment at the bottom, j Of course this led to examination, suspicion, i and discovery. Assuming, however that the strychnine had been dissolved, and that Mr. Light, hastily drinking off the liquor, j had taken the poisuo, then in a brief space j of time the victim would have been in all the agonies of tetanic convulsions. It was known that O'Connor had been the last person with Mr. Light, and tbe latter would not have been slow to state how he had been given the poison. To attempt to commit a crime, the penalty of wLich was tha gallows, and to do so with no apparent purpose to serve or object to be attained, appears to be an altogether inexplicable proceeding. Men do not usually, in cool blood, deliberately place their necks in jeopardy of the gallows without some powerful motive. Men have committed murder to wreak revenge, to gratify lust, or to acquire gain. In the present case it is not even suggested that there was any purpose whatever to bo served by O'Connor poisoning Mr. Light. What the motive of the former may have been for attempting the deed — if he had a motive — remains ono of those dark mysteries of the human henrt known alone to the prisoner and to the Omnipotent. The action taken by the prisonerO'Cosrtf oft this morning, when brought up for sentence, adds to the mystery which enshrouds the surroundings of this case. The prisoner applied for a further remand in order tbat he could call witnesses as to bis character, at the same time declaring that when again brought up he would bs prepared to make a statement which might indicate who was the really guilty party. The circumstantial evidence ot guilt against O'Connor himself appears to be very strong, but if there be further facts to be brought to light by the prisoner himself, it is well that opinions should remain in suspense for the present until the tlesired opportunity has been afforded for O'Connor to give his version of the affair.

The Hon. Mr. Burns, tbe PostmasterGeneral of New South Wales, who recently arrived in this colony, bad a lengthy interview with Ministers yesterday on various postal and telegraph matters in which the interests of both colonies are concerned. It was ultimately determined to refer the questions to the Hon. J. T. Fisher, Postmaster-General, who is to discuss them iv detail with Mr. Burns. Connected with this subject the Melbourne Argus makes the following statement, which in part explains the object of Mr. Burns' visit to this colony: — "The Colonies heve not yet been brought into accord with regard to the cable contract. Queensland still stands aloof, and New Zealand has intimated her dissent on the ground that the maintenance of the cable from Sydney to her shores is not made a general charge. Mr. Burns is about to proceed to New Zealand, and he will make a personal effort to induce the Wellington Government to waive this objection ; but even if persevered in it will not necessarily prove fatal to the scheme, as New South Wales is quite prepared to incur the responsibility of signing the contract in connection with Victoria and South Australia, or even with Victoria alone."

Mr. J . C. Crawford, who during the last twelve years has acted as Residont Magistrate in this city, will occupy the bench for the last time to-morrow. Mr. Crawford will carry with him into his retirement the esteem and good wishes of his fellow-citizens. As a magistrate he was diligent, painstaking, and ever anxious to perform his duties with impartiality and discretion. It cannot be said that Mr. Crawford possessed special qualifications for the office he held. He had no legal training, and the bent of his mind lay in the direction of scientific pursuits. He, however, possessed fair abilities, and the pains which he took to render himself fit for his position in a great measure surmounted all drawbacks. Then it can be said of Mr. Crawford that he was independent and upright in the administration of justice, while in dealing with evil-doers his ear was ever open to any mitigating circumstances which could be urged in their favour. Apart from this Mr. Crawford's urbanity and courtesy to those with whom he was brought into contact, were^uch as to secure for him an excellent position in the estimation of the public. We trust that Mr. Crawford will for years to come enjoy bis well-earned leisure.

His Honor tbe Chief Justice exercised a wise and merciful discretion to-day, in declining to send tbe boy William Dufiby to either prison or to a reformatory. The lad had hitherto been honest and good, his single offence being that of succumbing to a sudden temptation and stealing a cheque. To have sent him to gaol implied subjecting him to moral contamination and branding him as a convict for ever. Aud to send such a lad to one of our wretched reformatories would have simply been an act of cruelty, letting alone that the chances of reformation are nil. So William Duffey was sentenced to a nominal imprisonment of five days, dating from the beginning of the sittings of the Court. William Duffey shonld be grateful for an escape from utter ruin, and, profiting by the lesson, walk in the paths of rectitude and honesty for the rest of his life.