PROSECUTION OF BANK OFFICIALS.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11801, 11 May 1893, Page 2

PROSECUTION OF BANK OFFICIALS.

•*— [By Telegraph ] (Per 3.8. Talune at the Bluff ) Melbourne, May 4. The Police Court proceedings in connection with the prosecution of the direcfcDrs and officers of the Mercantile Bank are still unfinished. Mr Panton, P.M., on taking hi 3 seat this morning, expressed Ins sorrow that the Bench was not unanimous. The majority of the Magistrates wero in favour of the acquittal of all the defendants, but Mr McDonald, while agreeable that there should be an acquittal of all the defendants except Sir Matthew Davies and Mr Milledge, insisted that a strong prima facie case had bten made out agninsl. these two. Mr McDonald then, on his own responsibility, proceeded to formally commit Sir Matthew Davies and Mr JTillod<:o, when the accuseds counsol applied for a postponement in order to cons'ctar whether evidence should be nailed for the defonce. Mr McDonald oaid the request was a reasonable one, and consented. Mr Walsh, on behalf of tho Crown, then called attention to the second charge against the defendants, of concurring in the publication of a false balance-sheet. When the summons wag read ittrauspired that Milledge's name was not on it, a separate summons having been sworn against him owing to his absence in England, Mr Gauuson pointed out that the summons against MiUedge had never been filed in Court, Counsel for the accused all made strong appeals to tho Crown to withdraw the second chargt^ but Mr Walsh absolutely refused, and the case stands adjourned till Monday. — Post.