Alleged Justice.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume IV, Issue 600, 28 April 1891, Page 2

Alleged Justice.

THE CRIME OF BEING WITHOUT MONEY OB RICH FRIENDS. Among the passengers by yesterday’s steamer from South, was William Cipper, who was committed for trial on March 3rd, for perjury. The case of this young man—for he is only 17—shows how the fact of a person’s poverty may affect bis liberty. Capper was arrested on January 21 at Opotiki, on a charge of horse stealing, and remained in custody for 33 days until his trial. The jury returned a verdict of “ not guilty,” without leaving the box, principally because they disbelieved the evidence of one of the prosecutor’s witnesses. Cippermade a statement on oath at the trial, aud on tho following day he was arrested for peijury. The charge upon which he was arrested was dismissed, but in tho meantime another information had been sworn. The defendant’s solicitor pleaded for bail during the hearing of these charges, which was prolonged through no fault of lhe accused, but the application was not granted. Finally, on March 3rd, Capper was committed for trial on the second charge, and bail was again applied for. Had the bail been reasonable we are informed it could have been procured with little difficulty, but it was fixed at the sum of £lOO and two sureties of £5O each, which the solicitor for the accused said was condemning him at once to six months’ imprisonment. Tho accused had no influential friends, and his relatives are, we understand, quiet, industrious people at Opotiki, who are, however, not endowed with a large share of this world’s goods. Upon enquiries, which took some time, while Capper still remained in gaol, it was found that sureties could be obtained in Opotiki. Steps were at once taken to secure Capper's release, but the time lost in communicating with Opotiki caused some delay before the necessary papers could be eignod and returned, and meantime the retrenchment policy of the Government had resulted in the removal of tho prisoners to Napier. Tbe documents, however, arrived, on Thursday evening, and were despatched to Napier by Friday’s boat, and tbe expedition used there speaks highly for tbe attention and courtesy of the gaol officials. Capper was released on Saturday, just 60 days since hie second arrest and having, with the exception of 18 hours, spent 93 days, cr over three months in gaol. We have nothing to say with regard to Capper's guilt or Innocence of the charge on which he now awaits his trial. But every man is presumed to be innocent until he is found guilty, and one cannot help feeling for the young man who, simply on account of his poverty, must languish in gaol, while a richer man who is found guilty is not only allowed to offer his drunkenness as an extenuating circumstance, but is also released without sentence. Nor can we help feeling sympathy for the poor relatives (especially the mother) of Capper, who must have suffered terribly during the time he has been incarcerated, and who have been most anxious to secure his release in order that he might, among other things, earn the money which is required for his defence, and which they cannot afford. The rich are said to be sufficiently punished by the publicity of the evil actions which they confess: the poor may, even where innocent, through their circumstances be punished before they ' are convicted, and then may be eonvicted ' for want of funds to defend t hemeel re*.