When Procofty, the Russian, who is accused of having committed the murder at Te Aroha, was brought up at the R.M. Court, at the Thames, Inspector Thomson said lie had been unable to procure an interpreter, He had ascertained a merchant in Auckland was a Russian, but that party refused to act, as Procofty came from Odessa, where the people speak a x>atois. An Englishman might as well refuse to act as interpreter for a compatriot because he came from Lancashire ; but an Englishman would ■not refuse. Procofty, if he is committed for trial at the Supreme Court, will have a careful and patient hearing from an English judge and jury. He will be defended by an English solicitor whether he has the means to pay him or not, and any witnesses he requires for his defence will be brought to Auckland at the expense of our Government ; but his fellowcountryman will not act as interpreter because he comes from Odessa and speaks a patois. By-the ; bye, Inspector Thompson refers to this noble-minded Russian as a merchant. What constitutes a merchant? Surely not hawking American patent medicines and Barry's Tr£ copherous?
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Bibliographic details
Observer, Volume 1, Issue 25, 5 March 1881, Page 257
Word Count
191Untitled Observer, Volume 1, Issue 25, 5 March 1881, Page 257
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