NOT GUILTY.

Waipa Post, Volume XX, Issue 1244, 18 May 1922, Page 5

NOT GUILTY.

BISHOP LISTOff AND SEDITION. " grave indiscretion." Peering in court. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, This Day. Mr Justice Stringer, summing up in the Listen case, said the crucial part was the sentence which referred to those murdered by foreign troops. About this there was serious contradictory evidence, and the jury -would have to make up its mind 'what words actually were used. The Bishop was apparently proud of what took place in the Easter rebellion of 1916, but that was not an uncommon trait with Irishmen. If the words were actually altered as stated by the Bishop it put quite a different complexion on them. The jury had also to consider the occasion on which the speech was deliv-' ered. It was on St. Patrick's Day, and need not be criticised so closely. Unless the jury decided that the Bishop meant to stir up strife it could not find him guilty on that count; still, it would have been better had Dr Liston said, "Let us forgive and forget." Unfortunately he had said, " Let us remember and forgive."

The jury was out for 75 minutes, and returned a verdict of not guilty, ibut added the following rider, "We consider Bishop Liston was guilty of grave indiscretion in using words capable of misinterpretation and so calculated as to give offence to a large number of the public of New Zealand, and we hold that he must bear responsibility in part at least for the unenviable notorie'ty that has followed Ibis utterance." • His Honour: Thank you, gentlemen. That is a" very sensible rider. The announcement of the verdict was received with cheering and applause, especially by women in the gallery.

Mr Justice Stringer said he would commit any culprit who could be detected for contempt of court.