Wairarapa Standard Published Tri-weekly, Price 1d. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30, 1886. The Case of Free body

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XIX, Issue 1851, 30 June 1886, Page 2

Wairarapa Standard Published Tri-weekly, Price Id. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30, 1886. The Case of Free body

How is it that the Government have not yet come to a definite decision in the case of Freebody ? That this man was unjustly convicted of the offence laid to bin charge, no person of common sense thoroughly acquainted with the real facts of the case, in the least degree doubts. We need not go into any statement of those facts, because that has already been done in the most" minute and circumstantial manner. Petitions signed by hundreds of the Wairarapa settlers have been sent to the Government, setting forth a aeries of unmistakable facts, which showed that Freebody was an innocent man, and therefore should be released from gaol and the heavy punishment which he is unjustly undergoing. For a time, it seemed that the efforts thus made to deliver Freebody. would be successful. The public were told that the case of Freebody was under the consideration of the Cabinet; that the whole of the evidence adduced at the trial had been referred by the Minister for Justice to the Judge who tried the case, for his careful reconsideration ; and, finally, that the judge had sent in a report to the Government on the whole matter. Then, some how or other, a sort of moral paralysis appears to have attacked the Government, which resulted in no further action being taken with respect to the case. Days and weeks passed away and nothing whatever was done. The Minister for Justice made no sign ; the public Press could obtain no information as to the case, and the hundreds of Wairarapa settlers who had signed the petition for Freebody’s release, chafed aud fretted and wased wroth to think that their prayer to have a wrong set right and justice done to an innocent man, was being treated with cold blooded indiffer* ence and silent contempt. This state of affairs must not be permitted to continue. That kindly, inoffensive, and altogether innocent man, Freebody, is unjustly confined in gaol. He is clothed In the garb of a convict, fed on the coarsest fare, subjected to the most menial work, herded with old gaol birds and convicts, and subjected to confinement and restraints enough to drive an innocent man out of his senses. The Minister of Justice aud the Government know all this, yet they take no action in the matter. Why do they so delay 6 If the report of the Judge who tried the ease, has, on the whole, been favorable to the prayer of the petitioners, how is it that the Government do not take immediate steps to have Freebody released ? On the other hand, if the report of the Judge has been against the proposal to have Freebody released, how is it that the Government do not make the fact public and state that they do not mean to allow the man to be set at large ? On tbe former supposition, the Government are guilty of delaying to per* form an act of {justice and mercy which is imperatively called for at their hands; on the latter supposition, the Government are showing rank cowardice, by fearing to let the public know their decision not to release Freebody. The position of the Government, and more especially of c that “ sucking Minister ’’ Mr Tole, is simply contemptible. Wedemand of Ministers that justice should be done in this matter to the innocent Freebody ; and that if they a e not prepared to |acooi J what is so asked for, then that they should make public their decision to that effect, and at the same time set forth the grounds on which it is founded.

Since the above was written we learn that the Government do nob feel the necessity of tendering any advice to His Excellency the Governor concerning the case. The matter is now left with His Excellency, who will form his own opinion and act accordingly.