THE TRIAL OF TE WHITI.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7760, 5 October 1886, Page 5

THE TRIAL OF TE WHITI.

[by telegraph.— association,] Wellington, Monday. The Supreme Court opened this morning. There are seventeen cases, including those against Te Whiti, Titokow&ru, and others. The Judge, referring to the native cases, said that although Te Whiti was not present when the offence was committed, evidence would be brought to prove that he was the instigator of such offences, and if such 1 were the case, he must be held equally guilty with the others. Our Wellington correspondent telegraphs : —The trial of the native prisoners was fixed for to morrow (Tuesday), but after a conference between Mr. Bell, the Crown Prosecutor, and Mr. W; L. Rees, the counsel for the defence, it has been postponed until Wednesday. As the facts upon which the indiotment is based are admitted, they will offer no defence in answer to the allegations. Mr. W. L. Rees, who will appear for them, informs me that his task will be in arguitig the law points which may arise, either as to the form of the indictment or the nature of the offence charged against them. Their counsel also informs me that they will ask leave to make a statement of grievances. This will, however, not serve them much in the face of the statement of the law in the charge of the chief judge to the Grand Jury to-day, that persons assembling in force to create terror, even though in the assertion of a right, come within the definition of the offence laid in the indictment in this case. Mis Honor laid it down that even in the case of a European, he is guilty of an unlawful act if he attempted by force to reacquire possession of property which he might have lawfully held previously. Whether the Court will hear a statement of grievances such as the prisoners propose to make, is doubtful.