CHARGE AGAINST AN AUCKLAND SOLICITOR.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3411, 23 April 1880, Page 3

CHARGE AGAINST AN AUCKLAND SOLICITOR.

Me. S. E. Hughes, jun., who was recently tried at the Snpreme Court, Auckland, and acquitted of the charge of indecontly assaulting 1 a young girl in his house, has been severely ceusured by the Press. We take from the Auckland Herald the following 1 letter which has appeared, and will show the feeling 1 of the people on the matter :—: — Sir, — If S. E- Hughes had been poor and friendless, where wonld he have been to-day ? is a question asked with indignatiou more than usually pronounced, i Passing by the current report, re "tampering 1 with the jury," £50 lawyer's fees, &c, together with the judge's impartial summing- ap, pointing clearly to the weight of evidence being 1 unfavourable to the prisoner in tho case of Saxon t\ Hughes, I come to the ugly fact that a young girl, 15 years of age, whose conduct appears to have been simply natural and straightforward from first to last — is not safe from insalt in her master's house, and yet that master is acquitted, and the verdict of " Not Guilty" is received with cheers ! So unwisely do even grey-haired men and women often act in critical moments, that one is surprised to note the singular prudence and generosity that Mary J. Saxou and her parents have manifested throughout this disgraceful case. And what return have they met with ? Wronged and wretched, they could afford to allow Mr. Hughes to enjoy his momentary triumph as tney retired with quiet dignity from such a Conrt of justice ! I do hope there is some one man in Auckland who will clear bis conscience in the matter by uttering a fearless protest against having one law for the poor man, and another law for the rich man. — I am, &c , Ellen E. Ellis.