SINGULAR DECISIONS. TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Witness, Issue 1355, 17 November 1877, Page 16

SINGULAR DECISIONS. TO THE EDITOR.

Sm— ln your last issue appears a letter under the above beading, and mm your permission I will add to the number. A few weeks since a man byname Jackson was proceeded against by the police for wounding a horse, the property of a Chinaman. The wound was alight and injured the horse but slightly, and the only evidence against the accused was given by the Chinaman, who swore that he saw the accused throw a tomahawk at the accosed and so inflicted the wound. This witness was from half tothree-qnarters of a mile from the accused and the horse at the time. Certainly "his eyesight must be extra good to distinguish at such a distance. The Resident Magistrate committed the accused to take' hie trial at Duuedin. The jury, without much deliberation, acquitted the accused, who is a poor man with a urge family, and for so j trivial a case I can call it nothing but a singular decision.- Two other cue scaxne before the 'same Eeodent Magistrate lately— Strode and Fraser v. Napier— for stealing sheepskins. The ' first j case was for three' sheepskin* found on hiapre- j irises; the second case for three' 'sheepskinis found at. Williams and Brown's fellmongery establishment, -and* purchased from accused. After several adjournments the Resident llftgistrate gars the 'accused 14 days' -imprisonment in -Clyde Gaol on' the second case,',' and dismissed the first one.' ' Now I think this a -most angular decision. - If acsused was guHtyVsurefy the second case, where the <'sheepsktnV we're found on his premise*,'' was' the eaaiest p^oted!* and the most direct, and did not require the. evidence of the fellmongera. Bnt singular' things are often happening, and, as '"Goals." * says, are seldom known outside our 'dwWTittJe coterie. I think it would'be a wise as well as a safe plan for the Legislature, to remove 'our Wardeas -and Resident 'Magistrates a little oftener than they do. There is one thing certain :' the general public wouldnot suffer thereby although individuals may,— Tours, &c,

Joshce.

Vincent County, October 29th.