THE SCENE IN COURT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1548, 3 February 1887, Page 2

THE SCENE IN COURT.

" After the five hours' speech of Mr Chapman for the defence, it was expected that tbe Hall trial would not conclude till a late hour to-nigbt, if I then ; but Mr Qaggitt made a comparatively brief reply, and Mr Justice Williams' summing up was not so lengthy as might have been anticipated, Mr Chapman made an exceedingly able speeeb, but Mr Haggitt's reply wap felt to be very damaging, and the Judge's sumoning up was generally considered to be distinctly against the prisoner, although remarkably fair, while it was most lucid in its representation of tbn issueß and salient points of the evidence Hardly anybody, however, expected' a j conviction, for tb.B reasons 1 previouily |

_____ _ r __„.. udicated, . v arisiojip trom the extreme \ difficulty of proving (be entire cb»in of facts to the satisfaction of the jury. It was freely rumored this afternoon that , a disagreement or an acquittal was * inevitable, and whan'the jury intimated that they had agreed, after a retirement of only about an hoar, an acquittal was deemed certain. When the Judge ivsmud bis seat, and the jury returned, the scene was very 'impressive, the prevalent feeling of suspense being absolutely painful; but when,,in-answer to the usual question put by the Registrar, the Foreman announced' l ' Guilty " a thrill,. ran through _Jjhe^wJboJe >r crowd,. and all present, ( were strongly moved, sbm<» even to tears. /Ihev ©nlyjfman in the Court apparently unmoved wis Hall himself, who an aspect of [ absolute imperturbability. / Wljien he was asked * whither 7 he had anything to , jSay before d« t - he replied in a perfectly clear even vdce, ' ; -with rather a careless nonchalant air, " I don's see the good of j -my saying , ,anything.'Wit 'was pupppßed,.that as • the judge"qreßerTed ■ ' l '.a,' Vi .poi_t > " rJ for* Appeal Court santence. would be reserved, but His Honor said that the law left him the option ,of passing sentence and • respiting. iexfcatidnj or reserving judgment, and he intended to pass sentence now. He then put on the black cap, and passed sentence' without , any additional'^pbi6r.vati^i^. yl 'feo- little was the agreement'of the jury anticipated that.the Judge had gone to dinner, .tid had to be fetched in a hurry while the jury: waited. , He expressed his full concurrence in the verdict, which is generally apprioyed B>re;'V,;^g