JUSTICES’ JUSTICE.

Evening Star, Issue 8506, 4 May 1891, Page 2

JUSTICES’ JUSTICE.

TO THE EDITOB.

Sir,—Daring the past week two cases have come under my notice which show the necessity for some reform in the administration of justice in our Police Court. Yesterday 1 a woman was charged by a neighbor with using obscene language towards him, and the case was heard before Mr J. H. Morrison. Evidence was given by the informant that the accused had made use of most filthy language towards him, and he then called two witnesses to corrobo-

rate his story. One of these said that the complainant's wife and the accused were often quarrelling, but as far as this occasion was concerned he beard nothing at all about it The other said that both parties were very quiet neighbors as a rule, but occasionally they talked rather loudly. As to this occasion, however, he said he was there and heard no obscene language. Evidence was then given for the defence to the effect that the informant and his wife often used bad language, after which Mr Morrison said: " I convict the accused, and order her to come up for sentenoe when called upon. The informant is not free from blame, and if the information had been laid againßt him I would have done the same with him."

The other cue was heard to-day before Messrs John Logan and S. Moore (exinspector of police). A man named Feathers was charged with assaulting a boy named Muir, aged eleven years. Evidence was given by the lad Mnir, to the effect that he and several other children were proceeding home from the North-east Valley baziar, when the defendant rnsbed ont of his house in his nightshirt and canght the lad by ttu ~\l throat, threw him to the ground, and'"** kicked him in the ribs with his bare feet. This story was corroborated by two of the other children, and the lad's counsel informed the Bench that there were a host of others who would tell the same story, bat they (the Bench) said that they had heard enough, as the defendant had pleaded guilty. The defendant had, by his solicitor, pleaded guilty, and said that he did rush out of his boose as described above, and catch the boy by the collar and shake him, but he denied that he had kicked him. He called witnesses to prove that the lad and his brothers had annoyed his children and called them names. He also stated that he had given the boy 4s to square the matter. The Beach then, without comment, dismissed the case, notwithstanding the fact that the defendant pleaded guilty to the charge, and the lad's mother had to lose the amount of costs incurred by her. Surely it is a disgrace that in a city like this such proceedings should be tolerated. It seems to me that the administration of justice by our J, P. 8 is a hnge farce, and should take place in the theatre, where a. charge might be made for admission, and the proceeds handed over to some charity. It is quite evident that the present Polije Court is inadequate to hold the num-

b«r oi people who assemble every morning at eleven o’clock to heat the fun.—l am, etCi Reform. Donedin, May 2.