THE LATE INDECENT ASSAULT CASE, —A WOMAN'S OPINION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 5741, 12 April 1880, Page 6

THE LATE INDECENT ASSAULT CASE, —A WOMAN'S OPINION.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —If S. E. Hughes had been poor and friendless, where would he have been to-day? is a question asked with indignation more than usually pronounced. Passing by the current report, re "tampering with the jury," £50 lawyer's fees, &c., together with the judge's impartial summiag up, pointing clearly to the weight of evidence being unfavourable to the prisoner ia the case of Saxon v. Hughes, I come to the ugly fact that a young girl, 15 years of ago, whose conduct appears to have been simply natural and straightforward from first to last —is not safe from insult in her master's house, and yet that master is acquitted, and the verdict of "Not Guilty" is received with cheers 1 So unwisely do even grey-haired men and women often act in critical moments, that one is surprised to note the singular prudence and generosity that Mary J. Saxon and her parents have manifested throughout this disgraceful case. And what return have they met with ? Wronged and wretched, they could afford to allow Mr. Hughes to enjoy his momentary triumph as they retired with quiet dignity from such a Court of justice ! I do hope there is some one man in Auckland who will clear his conscience in the matter by uttering a fearless protest against having one law for the poor man another law, for the rich man. —I am, ic., Ellen E. Ellis.