JUSTICE IN THE “FORTIES”

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 January 1928, Page 12

JUSTICE IN THE “FORTIES”

LANGUISHING IN PRISON.

An indication of the financial stringency prevailing in Governmental cirP T°s in New Zealand in the early "Forties” is shown by the following advertisement which appeared in the Nelson Examiner in 1842, under the heading of “Warning to Boat Proprietors”:—“On the 13th April last I was hired by two of the constables of Nelson with my boat and crew on too ar d the schooner Gem, on police business. On applying to the police magistrate for payment lle «aid •was unable to settle my demand (£-), and that I should possibly have to wait 12 months before the Government would pay it. Being about to leave the settlement, I shall of course, lose that” (Signed) Michael Peel. The law’s delays Included other things besides monetary payments, remarks the Nelson Mail. On December 16, 1842, Peter Leonard was charged before the police magistrate with having committed burglary in the house of John Collins, by stealing a dressing case, gold studs, and other articles, the property of the said John Collins. On December 21 following, Peter Leonard was committed to the Nelson gaol—not the raupo gaol, but the one which cost £l50 —“there to be imprisoned until he shall be called upon to take his trial whenever and wherever he shall be called upon by Iler Majesty’s Attorney-General of New Zealand, or the Crown Prosecutor for the District of Nelson shall direct or appoint.” Christmas came, and New Year; but Her Majesty’s Attorney ; General there was as yet no Crown Prosecutor 2or Nelson—did not call upon , Peter Leonard. The summer of 1843 went bv and still Peter languished in prison. The fateful month of June came, and the police magistrate, Mr. H. A. Thompson, and the Crown Prosecutor for Nelson, Mr. Richardson, had both been killed in the Wairau massacre, and still the burglarious Peter remained in prison. Then on July 7,184., Messrs A. McDonald and David Munro, two justices of the peace, having heard what Peter had to say about his incarceration, release him on bail —himself in £lO, and one surety ot £2 found by Robert Ross —to appear when called on, as already stated, by tho Attorney-General, etc. Another Christmas and New Year came, and went, and the bailed-out alleged burglar was still at large. IC was not till March 19, 1844, a year and three months after he was charg--ecl before the police magistrate, that Peter Leonard was tried before the County Court at Nelson, and then only for petty larceny, and was promptly acquitted!