AN EXPLANATION.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2684, 23 September 1871, Page 2

AN EXPLANATION.

To the Editor. Sik,—ln accordance with my promise published in your paper last week, I forward you a copy of the letter I addressed to His Honor Mr Justice Chapman, which have the kindness to publish on my responsibility. * John Stamper. Mr Justice Chapman,—Dear Sir j I fancy you, not improbably, are not fully aware, and therefore I desire to gay, that although I was present nearly all the time, yet, I am so situated that I was not aware of one word that was said on last Friday, or, I think, the facts would not have been so misplaced, as, from the newspaper report, I perceive they are: could I have heard, they certainly would have been somewhat different; however, for that, no one is to blame but myself, orrather I attribute it to my infirmity of deafness. But my object in taking leave to write you —and I venture to do so, for I cannot withhold—trusting, however, to your kindness, is, touching the alleged object, which either I or my son had in taking minutes at Lawrence:—l, two Or three years ago, ‘desired my son to become articled to me as clerk—one object being, as was suggested to me, that he might assist me by making minutes whenever I should be, as I some, times am, (and the seldomer the better) necessitated to go into Court; and thus, when at Lawrence on the 3rd of April, I requested him to sit by my side in Court and note ■whatever in the shape of business was then said, so that I might thereby see as I could not otherwise know anything which might be said. It turns out very unfortunately for myfson audme too, if, throughhis simply doing so at my request for my assistance (for I assure you he had no other object) he is to be stigmatized and branded with the charge of “having done so with a view of instituting proceedings afterwards,” ■which could not possibly have been dreamt of by either of us—“that he had an (improper) intention when the statements were made”—“ that th§re vas sopie (improper) animus, some (improper) motive”—“ that, in faot, ho went to the Court for the express purpose, as it appeared ,” [.but'where does it appear by the evidence ?] of making up a prosecution ” !! I will not—l can not—think these gross charges against a lucre boy (of which my son and --I are as innocent as the ’ child unborn) would have been made by your donor had I heard and explain'd the object why he (unfortunately for my assistance) made .miuutes. He did so, I assure you, for my assistance in Court, and for no other purpose whatever: to inform you of which is the whole object of my now writing you. L do so in natural duty as a parent to his very dutiful and most truthful sou, as ■well as to sat the matter right before your Honor. I was not even present when the case was heard at Lawrence ; and it would be out of place in me in this letter to comment on the evideute pro and con, or anything else : the public will judge. Bqt I desire to add that, having heard from Mr Stewart your Honor’s intimation, made in chambers, touching letting these two indictments drop, I was, of course, not deficient in courtesy and respect to your Honor as not to abandon all thought of further proceeding. On the contrary, I did so ; and it was at last altogether by reason of a letter received from Government, which Mr Tyson sent to me, that he felt bound to go on, and sought ••■y aid to retain counsel. In justice to my son, who may be injured

by thisi stigma unjustly cast upon Mm, I desire to publish this, and shall be glad, if you have po„ objection (I see none) that I should do so, to say so; and rather than trouble you to say so, I shall take it fer granted unless I hear in the course of to day to the contrary. If you had rather I did not, yon need only say so ; and, with the greatest respect, believe me your’s most respectfully, John Stamper. Dunedin, 18th Sept., 1871.