Letters to the Editor

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 9, Issue 570, 27 December 1865, Page 3

Letters to the Editor

Turakino,, 19th Dec,

Sir, —In your issue of the 16th inst., I observe two judgments reported against me in the Resident Magistrate’s Court at Rangitikei. As it is generally supposed that the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, emanates from the Court, I think his Worship might as well have done so, and stated that the judgments were against the Chairman of the Board of Wardens, and not James M‘Donell. Why not report Mr. Scott’s case, v. M'Kelvie, which would be of more importance to the public. By inserting the above, and correcting the said report, you will do an act of justice.—l am, &c., Jambs M‘Donell, Late Chairman Board of Wardens, Rangitikei. [The Resident Magistrate had nothing to do with the report in question, which, v T e regret, was not so full as it ought to have beep. The other case, if we mistake not, was adjourned, and will no doubt be reported when settled.]

Rangitikei, Dec. 23. gir,—l write to bring before you and the public a disgraceful transaction that is now set on foot in this district, by the persons who have caused (as many, if not all, of ns think) an innocent man to be kept iip gaol for the murder of poor Robert Rayuer. They are endeavouring to force the settlers here to pay one of the Maoris of this place, called Nepia, the reward offered and subscribed by them for the purpose of finding out the murderer or murderers of the said Robert Rayner. But to

the credit of the honest settlers of these parts, they see through the dodge, and refuse, to be -• made partiesto what they can not help considering would be a crime. They refuse to pay because they have signed a petition to the Governor, and asked him not to allow the Government reward to be paid while the man Tricker, believed by them to be innocent, remains in gaol, and v'hile the murderers are at large. _ ... They further stated in that petition that they, the persons who had offered a reward for the discovery of the murderer, or accessories to the murder, of poor Rayner, would not pay the sums standing against their names for the conviction of Tricker, whom they, the said signers "of the petition, believe to be innocent. In this public.manner, by the presentation of the petition to the'Governor and his responsible ministers, by its publication in the newspapers of the colony, and by every other means in their power, .these petitioners have shown the feeling they entertain regarding the conviction of Tricker. They, in the said petitiou, went on to show that, had the petty jury at the trial been made properly acquainted with the state of the country at the time of the murder, and the conditions under which Tricker would have had to commit the crime, they would ouly have acquitted him, as the evidence for the Alibi, to anyone who knew these conditions, made it very clear that it was physically impossible that he could have committed the murder at the-time and in the way stated by the halfcaste boy. So the settlers refuse to he parties to keeping Tricker in gaol by paying for his conviction ; but they wish to keep the monies standing opposite their names until the truth conies out, and the real murderer is tried and found guilty. They refuse to pay, aud will resist the enforcement of paying the amount of their several subscriptions by every legitimate means in their power. I ask you, Sir, in your capacity of a journalist, to give publicity to their opinion on this subject. It is not the money we care about. We will pay that most willingly when the murderer is conyicted; but, as truthful aud honest men, we. cannot, and will not, make ourselves, by paying this money, partakers in the condemnation of Tricker, who, in this instance, we believe, would be as much a victim as poor Rayner. We are, therefore, willing to be prosecuted and allow false judgments against us, and i whatever ills may thereafter follow, for conscience sake, —we merely ask you, Sir, to show that in Turakiua and Rangitikei there are persons who are as willing at this day, as in the time of the Scotch covenanters and the English martyrs, to bear persecution for conscience sake. Aud although it is now the fashion to jeer at men who are willing to sacrifice everything to principle, and call them madmen or enthusiasts, instead of our being afraid of this as a reproach, we ask you, Sir, to point out that in Rangitikei there are some such who will in a day or two appear by summons before the Magistrate’s Court.—l am, &c.,

One w r no wishes to have the murderer of poor Rayner punished