BRIBERY OR NO BRIBERY ?

North Otago Times, Volume 1945, Issue XXVI, 22 July 1878, Page 2

BRIBERY OR NO BRIBERY ?

(To the Editor of the Nonm Or.vco Tmns ) Sir — As your evening contemporary has launched its last torpedo, and as when it next appears it will bo too Into to writo anything which could affect tho election for tho Mayoralty, I deem it not unfair to address you on tho subject of the charge of bribory contained in tho article cortiliod by "Joseph Williams." A more unfortunato instrument than Mr Joseph Williams could not have been selected. This gentleman, it sooms, is always only too ready and too willing to coino forward in support of any charge against any person whoso views may rot coincide with tho lofty ideas of our "boy legislator." It will, no doubt, bo fresh in tho recollection of most of your renders that a few years ago in tho R. M. Court Mr Joseph Williams told a plausible tale of forgery, in which ho was strenuously supported by another person. Tho subject of the prosecution was committed for trial, but a jury of his countrymen in Duuedin, after hearing what Mr Joseph Williams and tho "boy" had to say, wore so impressed with tho truthfulness of their statements and tho purity of the motives which actuatod them that they had tho audacity to consider any defense unnecessary, and the lamb intended for tho slaughter was thereupon Acquitted and suffered to seek other fields and pastures now. Must men would have been satisfied with such a rebuff, but not Mr Williams, for wo find him again tho samo plastic material as of old. What n handy man ! What a convenient follow ! What an electioneering god-aend ! Who can question his veracity after tho flattering decision of a Dunedin jury? And who can impugn the motives of those who so opportunely drop upon him at the present juncture. What a singular coincidence — Bribery and Joseph Williams meeting faco tof.ico. Had it been forger y it would not have possessod tho charm of novelty ; but Mr Joseph Williams is no common man : tho detection of forgory or sucli gorgeous crimes has no longer any charm for him, a now sensation must be procured at any cost; and accordingly ai the first opportunity ho snatches at tin

first incident that smacks of a new crime. Hribory mid Corruption ! Ha !ha ! He rofuscs the hated dross, rushes wildly away to his mentor and his mentor's scribe, who with quivering quill an 1 fl a'oat-boladen brow indito and acattor forth tho talo to at loast thirteen awostricken readers, who devour tho interesting and not unwolcomo meal, for tho modest sum of ono penny, payable weekly in advance. Talk of cheap literature ! Don't mention tho " Polico News " to mo, or breathe a word of the harrowing, blood-bespattered pages of that much esteemed California!! journal "The Day's Doings." All such trashy publications fade into utter insignificance before tho glory of Joseph Williams, tho " boy," and tho " Evening Penny Pipolight ! " But a truce to electioneering bye- play, Ist. Is it likely that Mr Steward authorised nny poraon to offer a bribe for ft voto in hU favor? 2nd. It it likoly that any porson •oeking to bribe another would openly mako the attempt in pretence of two witnesses ? 3rd. And if tho pound had been oflorod in good earnest — in the dark—it Mr Joseph Williams the man to refuse it? Lot us have as much banter as we please at such a timo as this ; let us h t hard and hit ofton 5 poll early and poll often ; lot us resort to all fair, many means for securing tho eloction of tho man of our choice — from talking over an elector to breaking his head with a thick stick in tlio event of his proving adverse; but lot falsehood, and tho mm who descend to tho use of such a vi'o lover bo for over banished front the correspondence columns of every respectablyconducted newspaper. I am, tfce., SIIILLELA.aiI.