THE SCOTT CASE. TO THE EDITOR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9179, 20 April 1893, Page 3

THE SCOTT CASE. TO THE EDITOR.

Sm,—Will you allow me to refer to a portion of the evidence given in the Scott murder case, and state how the matter presents itself to my mind. I am about to refer to the silver-topped phial in which were found strychnine crystals. The police admitted that Mrs. Thompson had given an explanation how the phial was found in Thompson's bedroom, and when it is borne in mind that it is of the greatest interest to clear up the question whether Thompson took poison himself or Scott administered it, you will see the great importance of ascertaining how a bottle with poison in it readied the sick man's bed-side. It may be safely assumed had Mrs. Thompson's statements supported the prosecution she would have been called to Rive evidence, and as she was not called it in not unfair to infer her statements were in favour of Scott. If such is the ease has not the Crown suppressed evidence? It is no excuse for the police to say Mrs. Thompson's e»iilenco was not to be relied upon, her word was worth HtUe, for the answer is, that neither tiio police nor the

Crown Prosecutor were the judges of what was evidence, or whether the witness giving it was trustworthy. Those points were for the Judge and jury to determine. To my mind it is evident the Crown suppressed evidence, and the inference is because it was not favourable to the case for the prosecution. —1 am, etc., Q.