SETERE STRICTURES BY A JUDGE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XIII, Issue 4714, 19 October 1886, Page 2

SETERE STRICTURES BY A JUDGE.

A TRIO OF SCOUNDRELS. UNMITIGATED SWINDLERS. Thk triumphant acquittal of Mr A. D. Bennett, notary public, at Auckland on Friday last, on the charge of alleged perjury, has excited great public interest, and has given lively satisfaction. Judge Ward, in summing up, said it was scarcely necessary for him to address the jury. The indictment was one charging Bennett with having made an affidavit that a bill when presented to him by Mackay was not endorsed. They had really no evidence on i his point beyond the trio of scoundrels they had seen in the witness box. They had not said a word to show that the bill was that tattered document the jury had seen. On the other side they had the evidence of Ballantiue, who swore that he saw the bill and there was no such endorsement. The jury had also the evidence of the boy who heard Bennett say that the bill was not endorsed. That was the evidence before them, and they had now to say whether that evidence was true. The jury without leaving the box found the accused not guilty. At the announcement there Avas a burst of applause from the crowded Court which the police endeavored to suppress. His Honor said : " Let the accused — I mean the acquitted — leave that dock. I have only now Mr Bennett to express to you my regret that you have been exposed to the indignity of standing in that box at the instance of such a band of unmitigated swindlers. (Applause.) I trust that measures will be taken to give them their deserts. No costs will be allowed to Bolton, Walker, Mackay and Green, the witnesses for the Crown. Ir When Mr Bennett left the dock a most exciting scene took place. Many of his friends, who throughout had watched the case with great interest, crowded round him, and warmly grasped his hands, while the crier attempted in vain to keep order until His Honor had retired. A number of citizens waited upon Mr Bennett, urging the prosecution of the parties implicated in the case. Mr Bennett said he had lost sufficient money in defending himself. It was tho duty of the Crown to undertake such a prosecution. A deputation of prominent citizens thereupon went to Superintendent Thomson, who stated that it was not competent for him to undertake the presecution, but he had no doubt if representation were made to the Wellington authorities action might be taken. A later telegram stated that proceedings are being gone on with. AuczfLAND, to-day. It is rumored about town to-day that one of the trio of scoundrels, referred to by Judge Ward, had taken his departure last evening by the Arawata for Fiji.