MR. HISLOP AND MR. MACKAY.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 466, 26 October 1877, Page 2

MR. HISLOP AND MR. MACKAY.

.—« The following is a copy of the letter sent by Mr. Hislop to the Minister of Justice, praying that the Government would recommend the Governor to mitigate the sentence of seven days' imprisonment, which fo'ur Resident Magistrates had passed upon Mr. Mackay for ids late assault upon Mr. Hislop : Wellington, 19th October, 1577. The Hon. the Minister of Justice, Wellington. .Sir, —Referring to the conversations which I have had with you on the subject of the decision in the case against Mackay, the first of which, you will remember, took place early in the evening of the 17th, 1 now, at your request, beg to lay before you my views as to his release. During the lirst conversation I explained to you that all I sought had been obtained —that I had had an opportuity of stating in public the true nature of the circumstances attending the assault, and that four Justices of the Peace, with only two of whom I was acquainted (and with these two only slightly), had emphatically marked their sense of the proceeding, and that as I had no desire to see him detained in gaol, I should be pleased if the Government could, without putting a slight upon the Bench, recommend his Excellency to mitigate the sentence. Since then, however, untruthful articles and distorted rejiorts a\)peared in two of the local newspapers, and misstatements were circulated by some of Mackay's friends ; and these were so much on a par with the nature of the boasts which Mackay had made, and of the evidence which he gave on the hearing of the case, that, as you will remember, I yesterday withdrew my request. The action since taken by some of Mackay's friends, and the nature of the petition which has been printed in the papers, have been such as to incline me to adhere to my determination to offer no assistance to obtain his release. However, it has been represented to me by friends of my own who know Mackay's family, and who feel for them, that I ought not to allow the action of his friends to bias my judgment. As, therefore, 1 am still of opinion that no further good can be obtained by detaining him in gaol, I hope that you vrill see your way, in merciful consideration, to recommend his Excellency to mitigate the sentence.—l am, &c. T. W. Hislop.