W.C. Smith and the Cadman- Rees Jury.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 7285, 12 August 1893, Page 2

W.C. Smith and the CadmanRees Jury.

In the speech which he made in the House on the 12th of July, on the Oadtnan Be s case, Mr W 0. Smith—Mr Oadman’s partner in Native lands badness—said that Mr Bees had been saved by his debts, and that the verdict of tbe jury had been effected by considerations in that connection. Ho said plainly that he had letters showing that that was the reason why only £os in damages were awarded to Mr Cad man. On the night before the verdict it was given out, said Mr Smith, that Mr Oadman required only a verdict; that Mr Bees owed money to a number of tradesmen in Napier • that some of them held his bills ; and that, if the jury gave costs and heavy damages against him, he would not pay those tradesmen, but go through the Bankruptcy Court. In his speech, as spoken in the House, though not reported in Hansard, Mr Smith said that tbe matter had been discussed with members of the jury on the night before the verdict at a Caledonian Pociety’s ball in Napier, and that a bill-discounter of local importance was a factor in the case. All this was very circumstantial, yet no more so than a statement which has just been published by the twelve jurors over their own signatures. They give an absolute denial to Mr Smith’s charges ; say that not one of the members of the jury was present at tbe Caledonian ball referred to } that they were not aware of Mr Bees’ connection with any bill discounter ; and that “the statement that they were influenced by the motives imputed to them by Mr Smith is utterly devoid of truth.” Here the matter rests between Mr W. O. Smith and tbe 12 jurymen ; Parliament and the public will probably have little difficulty in deciding which statement to believe. Nay, the matter should be put thoroughly to the proof, and if the statement of the jurors is sustained, Mr Smith should be compelled to resign his seat in Parliament. Ever since this Oadman-Bees business has come fully out, wo have thought he should not be in tbe H >u?e, and unless he can disprove tbe charge now brought against him by those Napier jurymen, be should be sent packing from political life without an hoar’s grace.— (Wellington Press)