Correspondence.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 1760, 21 June 1877, Page 3

Correspondence.

MOCK JUSTICE. TO TBK BDITOB OF THE TIMAEU HIRAU). Sib,— ln the case of J. T. Pain, tried at the Supreme Court on Wednesday last, there can be found a good sample of our law. The man is found guilty of embezzlement (of stealing money) by the jury. Then the fight with •hadowa (points of law) begin*. A lolemn trial by judge and jury is immediately turned into a farce. What is the use of summoning a jury to decide whether a man be guilty or not guilty of any crime, if their decision can be set aside ? Why should any judge have the power to upset th« verdict of a jury? Th» jury m this case are made fools of, and " points of law" take the place of common sense and justice. If a judge has power to reverse the decision of a jury, what is the use of a jury at all ? I am, &c, JITSTITIA.

[We quite agree with our correspondent. The proceedings m Pain's case were perfectly monstrous. The case is still, to the disgrace of our Courts of Justice, sub lite, and we cannot say as much about it as we should like to. We are able, howerw, to endorse to the fullest extent the opinions of " Justitia." — Ed. T. S~~\