ALLEGED CONSPIRACY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14857, 11 June 1910, Page 8

ALLEGED CONSPIRACY

TWO DEFENDANTS ACQUITTED* I'kbs A»Mciilioa—By T«legrs.ph—Copyright, . MELBOURNE, Juno 10., (Received Juao 10, at 8' p.m.) Mr Justice Hood ordered tho acquittal of Robert and William Harper, who were charged with- conspiracy in connection with the Ronald-Harper, libel case. * ■ Tho 'Attorney-general of Victoria has for somo time past .had under consideration tho depositions takon in the ease in which liobcrt Harper, Wifliam Harper, William OBrockot, William Kemp, Patrick. Hill, and Jolur Huxkjy, wero caJngod with conspiracy to defeat the enda of justice. Mr Cresswell, P.M.,' held, at tlw 01030 of tho evidence, for tho prosecution that thero was ho case for Robert Harper to answer, and he was discharged. Evidence in defence of the others' -was token, and at its conclusion William Harper, Brocket, and Kemp were discharged, and Hill and Hurioy wero committed for trial. Hill was found guilty on charges of subornation iuid was sontenocd to five years and rtino ihantlis' imprisonment. . Subsoquontlj; tho Attorney-general had a. conference with Mr Purvcs, K.C., Mr Bryant, and Mr "Wionarski; tho Crown pro; Recutor, who had charge of tho prosecution in tho oourt below in tho conspiracy Charges, and against. Hill in tho soburiiu- . tion charges. Tho result was that it was decided to file presentments against Robert Mid Wiliam Harper, and Brocket and Komp, and to sond them for trial with Hill and Huxley.-- f ; Tho Chief • Justice, in passing sentence on Hill -on- tho charges of subornation, sail:'—!'Tho act which you havo done is ono which not only horrifies tho community, but which also surprises it beyond measure. It has been long suspectcd by those in a position to know that thero has been interference by intriguers, and tricksters liko yourself in tho administration. of justice., From time to time occurrences havo liapponed which havo irot been easy to explain, oxcopt by tho fact that thero were miDomcrs about, who wero active in their nefarious 'efforts. But that thero should.be in this prosperous, fino Joung oountry u body of men to whom tho means of e&rhirtg a livelihood ought to bs easily obtainable, and that these men, upon tho merest'mood, with hardly any pressure, and: 'without any necessity, should agroo to destroy the roputation and character of an unhappy man thoy never saw or heard of before; 'passes the basis of .belief. How many of 'aro safo wliile such villainies aro 'abroad it is difficult to imagine. 1 do not know any crimo which has como within my oognisanco sinco I have been on tlw bench which apeals to me with moro horror than that which you havo ihstigated and brought about. Murder, of course, takes life. Other offences aro an Insult to solf-respoct. Property may bo ' to a laTgo extent mado away with by orimiilaljty. But. in. tin's case there is lurking insidious villainy against which no man can fight or protect himself. I do not kfTow wluifc can' hit so hard against tho Integrity of the poop'.o of this country as eucli a crime as this. In overy point of ' view yoif'are ".as dangerous, a, man as one ttifl contemplate. Thero was a timo in history when an, offender of your character would bo branded on the. forehead ivith tho letter .'-P,' so that all tho world might avoid him as- they would a rattlesnake. It almost iitoiltos one regret that in these enlightened days such punishment as that can no longer bo-placed upon you. The sentence I pass .upon you is that you bo,imprisoned -for mrro months upon each- mxl OVCI7 one of tho first scvon. counts, tho tentenoes. to bo cumuJativo upon each p.thor, and that you bo imprisoned in reelect of tho eighth count for six months' imprisonment, to bo emmilativo upon the seventh count."'