BISHOP LISTON’S TRIAL.

Grey River Argus, 18 May 1922, Page 6

BISHOP LISTON’S TRIAL.

HALL SKELTON’S EVIDENCE. DEFENCE CASE CLOSED. A I ('KLAN D. May 17. The charge of using seditious language against Bishop Liston was resumed to-day. Dean Liston, parish priest, gnve evidonee that he heard the speech, and it did not give him the impression of suggesting disord-T, disloyalty, or sedi tion. The Bishop mentioned s' V< ral names of those who had diml for Inland, ; nd mentioned several number' without giving any name who had died in several ways. The last on the list he said were those- killed by foreign troops. Witness understood the reference- was particularly to three- priests alleged to have* been murdered by auxiliaries in Ireland, it had nee ref-r once at all in witness's mind Io th--1916 Eister rising. Mr Hall Skelton, a solicitor, describing himself as an Anglican, giv'rg ex i deuce, referred to a couver.-vii <<n | : -- had with Bishop Liston before th-.-speech in question was delivered. Mr Mered’.th objected that this was irrelevant, ami that the interview mu.-: have occurred seven months ago. His Honour said that he- h-d seri ous doubts about the admissibility* of this as evidence, but was pre-pared to admit rather than e-xclmh- it, when it might throw light on the- issue-. The- witness said he was delivering a series of lectures in tin- count rv. Bishop Liston said that he- should be c* refu’ not to say anything likely to cause frirtion between the different sections of the- community. Witness denied that the* Bishop st-lit for him because hi was getting over the- edge- of his (Skelton’s) Town Hall speech. James O’Brien, timber merchant. gfl\e evidence that from a personal interview with Bishop Liston, he was con vinced the Bishop was as lov.J ns him self, and a strong supporter of Irish free rule. This closed tin* case* for the- defence. Counsel are now addressing the Court. VERDICT OF “NOT GUILTY.” WILD CHEERING IN COI’RT. AUCKLAND. May 17. A verdict of “n«»t guilty’’ was returned to-day by the.jury in the* trial of Bishop Liston. The- announcement <»f the verdict was the signal for an outbreak of wild cheering, ami handclapping in theCourt. Tin- shrill cries of the* women in the gallery were particularly prominent. Wh-n order was restored, the Judge said that if the- police could find run * *' "het te>ok part in tin* de-inonst ra t ion, he would commit them for contempt <>- Court. After the counsel on both sides I a.'l addressed the Jury. His Honor occupied an hour in his summing up. 'l'he jury deliberated for 75 minutes. 'I hev added a rider stating: “We com ; sider that Dr. Liston was guilty of a | grave indiscretion in using words cap- ■ able* of an interpret ion s<» calcuhi te-.l to! give otlenee to a large* number of the public of New Zealand, ami we* hold I.*- must bear a responsibility, in part, at least, for unenviable* notoriety that hits followed his utterances. His Honor:Thank you gentlemenThat is a very sensible* rid-er!’’