ACQUITTAL OF SIEVIER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13583, 12 September 1908, Page 2 (Supplement)

ACQUITTAL OF SIEVIER.

DRAMATIC CLOSING SCENES. [raoMora ow:< CO-RESPONDENT.] ~.{ "'"',: London, July '31. ; ,g;f| The trial of Robert Standisb. Sievier on «a > indictment charging him with attempting to blackmail Mr. J. B. Joel, was opened this week at the Central Criminal Court be- .* fore the Lord Chief Justice. The deep in-.', terest taken by the public in the case was ji| indicated -by the efforts which had been , made to obtain entrance to the Court, and f the number of persons assembled outside to ■ witness the arrival of the principals con.- I cera'ed in J the case. Sievier made answer "not guilty " to the '. charges preferred, and Mr. Kufus Isaacs, his leading counsel„ suggested that Mr. Joel " should leave the Court. Ho was a witnc», . | and ought to bo in the same position »-,.-'■ other witnesses. Sir Edward Carson (for "; the prosecution) said it was an unusual application, / but he did not tl..nk he: need oppose. The Lord Chief Justice then ordei'ed Mr. Joel to leave the Court. At length, Rafter having occupied four > days, the case came to an end last night;:;; with a wealth of dramatic incident. la a scene almost unparalleled for • its outburst of public feeling, both inside and oukid* the* Old Bailey, the defendant was acquitted. Sir William Treloar, who was one n those sitting on the Bench, said he .'ass never heard such shouting in a court of law. • Hats, sticks, umbiellas, were waved in Court, and a woman, gorgeously dressed, > pushed her way through the crowd, and as Mr. Sievier was leaving the Court die put , f her arms round his neck ;tnd kissed bin. The Lord Chief Justice was evidently much amazed at the demonstration in ( Court, and put his hand up to his head as if the not* were deafening to his ears. He said sharpy ly, "It is a most ; disgraceful exhibition. 1' Ushers and police, who naturally expected the well-dressed people in Court had thai gift supposed to belong to educated folk « .y| restraining their feelings, were unable to ,;j ; prevent the demonstration, which was renewed when the Lord Chief Justice saw, "Mr. Sievier, you are discharged." That was all the learned judge said; no warning, no comment. It was one of toe. shortest judicial speeches ever known. The jury were absent rather more then *0 ,'• hour they nearly all returned smiling- " That smile means thi-t Sievier's off," *«"*: , pered a man. at the back of the Court, am | somehow everyone knew that the foreman Sjfc was going to'say, in answer to the uau** question, "Not guilty." They were «uyj . waiting for the foreman to say it to 8"* ' vent to their feelings. "When on© thinks what his case nWWJJ one trembles at the power of money BMW hands of an unscrupulous person, who dot* not mind descending to dirty tricks. *** us think what it moans. Imagine a n* 3 with the power of money knowing that »' . other whom he hated was hard up, .on »J* beam-ends, and very broke. Imagm* *» . man with that power of money getting W*j of his enemy's best friend and most trust** confidant, setting him to work to tempt "* enemy with gold, forcing him to tow »» ■ making him take it, and when he got » «r ?| resting him, prosecuting him, bringws W" to the Old Bailey and trying to send ni» - to durance vile!" That is a typical i»flffi»| from Mr. Rufus Isaacs' speech for the m •fence. There were many su-A F****** even- word of which was uttered with «*: mendous'vigour of voice, and' empbasi*« by strikingly expressive gestures. ',] : 's?°®fS for the defence was alwavs fair to $*,'*'' :,' ward Carson, and he used the phr»*a ™* lna of mv learned friend'* unpwf'T* ■ ,-. ness." • The case has been a battle Of (gHg'jSfJjj and a great perianal triumph for Mr. twn»" - ;■- Isaacs. < v—^-"^ ,-■( A policeman on duty in the neigh**** hood said that lis had not known-«« i < scenes of interest and excitement, «nw» :^ .[ famous- Camden Town murder <*»» '.',;-..^/:| > 'J 1f Mm