A CASE FOR INQUIRY.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 4549, 27 May 1889, Page 3

A CASE FOR INQUIRY.

Under the heading"A Felony Compounded" the Auckland Observer publishes a long racy narritive 113 t.) how the recent charge of larceny was " squared." It throws tho blame on the Justiceß and police, and says they should bo censured. The statements made by the employer and the father of accused show tbat the case was compounded by the formor accepting three times tho amount of money charged as Btolen. The employer also admits trying to extort £20 additional from the father of the accused, who states : "On tho morning after the trial I called on Mr X, and asked him to give me the boy's certificate of service. Ha said he could not do that, and made a long statement against tho boy's character. I left but went back on the Monday following, and asked for tho certificate. Mr X said :" I have come to the conclusion that if you give me £20 I will give you a certificate.' 'Do you want to blackmail ?' I naked. ' I don't care what you call it,' he 6aid ; ' I want £20 — £10 for the trouble and lo?3 I have had, and £10 for tho certificate.' Nothing came of that interview ; but after a ecene at tho lodge, for which I had to apologbe, a friend went to Mr V, and he cave up tho certificate without any payment." This was before the 'hush' money was paid. The employer's statement is that the first £10 was to recoup him for loss, and the other £10 to go to charities. 'J be Obserrer says that making this demand casts a shade of suspicion on all the employer's action m tho matter, and it risks : Is it reasonable to nsaumo that the justices, police, and all concerned were tools of a designing scoundrel who wished to levy blackmail ? It also aska : Will the Minister of Justice order a prosecution for compounding a felony ? Is it his intention to ask the justices of the Poace for an explanation of their conduct ? Will Major Gudgeon cause an inquiry to bo mude into the action of the police ?