PURGED.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 193, 8 September 1888, Page 2

PURGED.

The district has undergone.the usual purging to which it is submitted every six months. Many are thankful that it is all at an end ; a few are not, but that is all their own fault. However it is to be accounted for, the calendar was an agreeably; light one, though not as light as we could ' wish it.- Some people have an idea that hard times in this colony diminish crime, and in our case this theory seems to have an application ; yet times are never so bad but some business can be found for the Supreme Court. But it is remarkable this time that the Crown was defeated in every case, and only one conviction was secured, the duty in that case being so plain that it was impossible for the jury to do otherwise than face it. Mr T. B. Smith, perhaps, should thank his lucky stars, and his case may be added as another of those lessons which hayq bepn taught the Gisborne people, much against their own inclinations. The rape case was a most extraordinary one, and there is not the slightest doubt that an acquittal was the proper course. In the case of perjury against Thomas Martin the jury plan acted wisely. There seemed, from the evidence, no doubt that Martin did receive the order, but when the circumstances were considered there was really no ground for a charge of perjury. Neither can it be lost eight of that this method of giving orders is a most objectionable one, and is calculated to lead to occurrences of a like nature. On the whole we may feel well satisfied with the calendar. Of course there was quite enough civil business, but that is of more concern to those directly interested it is to the public.