CATLEGTEALING IN MOUNT BENGER DISTRICT.

Otago Witness, Issue 1555, 27 August 1881, Page 14

CATLEGTEALING IN MOUNT BENGER DISTRICT.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,— The above storm in a teacup exploded on Wednesday night last, to the i>o small surprise and disgust of the parties who made the charge against William Bain, a t-uteher here, and a young- man of a <;ood lncnil eh.v ncter, and one wlio is universally respected, 113 testified to by the go oral satisfaction expressed at the conclusion of the ca^e in the Police Court, when the niagistinte, in giving his decision, said that the ca>o for the prosecution had utterly failed, that the principal witness tho police had was not to bo be3k-\ed, and in discharging the accused said that he loft the Court without a stain on his character. The polico of course refused to give the name of their informant ; and I consider it a disgrace that a man can be charged with such an offence and when the accusation is proved groundless, as in the present case, the informer is allowed to go scot-froe, while his victim is put to expense and has no means of redress. I think that in such a case the police should give the name of the informer, so that action could bo taken against him. What piotection has anyone in this neighbourhood got while we have an individual living amongst us capable of giving information to the police about anyone who may happen to offend him in any way, and putting us to expense, while he hides his dishonoured head behind the police? But, Sir, 1 fancy that Sergeant-major Moore has got a lesson, and he will think twice before he tackles another case of tho kind in this district. His principal witnesses, in trying to do the thing well, went so far as to destroy all belief in their evidence.— I am, &c.

X. Y. Z.

Roxburgh, August 22nd.