"JUSTICES' JUSTICE."

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7957, 23 January 1888, Page 3

"JUSTICES' JUSTICE."

Sib,— l conclude that the paragraph beginnirg with the above words in your issue of this date was written by some one who had not been in Court during the trial of the Limmer assault case, or even taken the trouble to read the evidence carefully. My own opinion (which I think was shared by most of those in Court) is that the evidence clearly proved lour things, vk:— (l.) That the defendant went to Mr Sanders's place on lawful business. (2.) That his presence there was with the full consent of the owner. (3.) That the defendant was first assaulted by the plaintiff. (4.) That in defending himself he used no more force than was absolutely nee- ssarv. I consider that a wilful and unprovoked assault upon a woman is so utter y dastardly, that nothing short of imprisonment should be inflicted as a punishment. But the very stigma which fa rightly attached to the offence ought to niake'u* very careful not to take away a man's character by unfairly imputing that offence in a case in which, after a lone and careful investigation the decision is that the alleged a&sault wag of a,very_ V trivial nature.— l am, &c.. Your Hastings Corkespondint. Baitings, January 91, 1888.