Untitled

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1249, 19 April 1880, Page 2

Butler has passed through the first of "his trials unscathed, thanks to a humane judge and jury. Those of the public who had carefully studied the evidence could have anticipated no other result than that of conviction. Ever since the facts of the case became known the public have been almost unanimous in a verdict that was certainly not in the prisoner's favor. Wherever one travels since the conclusion of the trial, one is assailed on all sides and from all classes with expressions of astonishment and dissatisfaction at the upshot. The mystery is that a jury from amongst the people could have given a verdict so opposed to public feeling. There was little wanted to conclusively point to Butler as the perpetrator of the foul murder of Dewar, except actual discovery while committing the act. From the time of his arrest at "Waikouaiti to nearly the close oi the trial, a chain of evidence had been linked that led to the almost universal opinion that Butler would expiate the Cumberland-street crime on the scaffold. But British sympathy, which waxes so strong for the victims of a cruel deed, invariably suffers a reaction in favor of the man accused of being the author of the deed when the first shock has passed away. Such sympathy is one of the most admirable traits of the people composing our nation. But it is often so misplaced as to mean kindness to an undeserviug unit and cruelty to a multitude. It is a pity that jurymen have not more iron in their compositions. The feeling that the life of a fellow creature is in their hands quite overcomes their judgment. A man accused of a horrible crime with a conclusiveness the half of which has ended in the merited capital punishment of many a vile wretch, is viewed by them, not as a possible murderer, but as an inoffensive creature trying to defend himself against grievous persecution. A culprit who is a glib speaker—who can wield argument so well as to make tlie most of every weak point in an indictment—who can by pathetic appeals influence the softer side of human nature—who can impress a jury with a sense of their terrible liability to commit the very crime of which he is accused by consenting to his death —such a man throws dust in the eyes of a jury, and leaves a tribunal ready once more to shake off sheep's clothing and return to his career of vice. We do not saj 7 that we think that Butler should have been convicted. but that it is far from clear that he is not the man that is wanted. However, Butler has only escaped the first difficulty. He will now be charged with the murder of Mrs. Pewar, and it is to be hoped that some fresh evidence will be to hand that will assist in the investigation and lead to the conviction of the perpetrator of the deed. If this indictment should fail like the last, there is still some likelihood that he will be arraigned for arson and robbery at Mr. Stamper's with better success, for there can be no doubt that, whether Butler is guilty of the murder of the Dewars or not, he is a dangerous criminal, and should be put beyond the reach of carrying on his depredations.