AN ADJOURNMENT MADE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume L, Issue 12169, 19 January 1903, Page 5

AN ADJOURNMENT MADE.

When the Co.tfri^ resumed; ait 2.15 o'clock Mr 1 Wcstbn addressed the Court on the ' procedure adopted by the P&trow nwrf&Jy^ taking, the, arfon cafce' before <-tK<P major charge' o£« Mulder. He pointed out that witnesses would give .evidence in the arson case,, and, probably after seeing their evidence- in- print and on consideration ,woulcL alter their evidence >iii stfmefrespects in the murder case— to the prejudice' of whom? The man in -tho dock. He urged that the evidence in the "murder charge should come fresh from the lips" of" the witnesses. This was not a case whore tho punishment meant incarceration', but a case where the accused's 'existence was at stake, and he, therefore, beseeched his Worship to have the charge of murder taken first." The course of putting. the "cart jb'efo^e;. , 'tKsiJ>#o"' . as. !£ did "not commend "itself to him as" a lawyer. Ho trusted the Crown would see their way clear to adjurn the present proceedings at this stage, and then proceed with the murder charge.

said that the charge- of apfidting bodily harm would be withgrawnr ixnH [„ fltofk ' J '^[ould- leave two charges-^srson and ftiurder. AsAeprocedure he ditl not, '^as Grown. JPrfisecu^.or^.j wi^sh ,to deal u'n-faii-ly,'>vi.tk" ih,§ accifsect as their mOtto was, Xct justice be v don,e. He jwould leave the matter in his Worship's hands. t> >.. \ j f : If is Worship \ considered , it was - a bnatter for the Crown prosecutor :to ,decide. - ' ■• . - ; m : • 1 Mr Kerr said -he 'was agreeable to meet Mr Westbn on the matter. .; His Worship said he would adjourii sine gpr.csejrs <prq9eedirigs v> tiU Thtirsday next, and would' Jtdlcc'^Ee murder charge first on AVedncgday next.