Meikle Commission.

Woodville Examiner, Volume XXII, Issue 3869, 4 May 1906, Page 3

Meikle Commission.

Dunedin, May 2

At tliO sitting of lie Mciki Cmnmission to-day, Dr Findlay brought before the court what he cousulcivl contempt of court on the part of Meikle in insulting and threatening the witness Fleming last week.

The commission ordered Miiklo to show cause to-morrow why he should not be adjudgtd guilty of contempt. Mr A. B. Atkinson resumed Ids address, reviewing and analysing the evidence given at the trial of Meikle and Lambert’s defence at his trial for peijury. He then turned to the payment of £SOO to Meikle in full satisfaction of his claim against the Crown, end £294 IGa Id costs incurred in prosecuting Lambert. These votes were made on the assumption that Meikle was guilty, but it was now hoped to show Meikle’s innocence.

Mr Justice Cooper said a point the commission must bo satisfied on was whether a person who, knowing he had been wrongfully convicted, chose to take a sura of money, and voluntarily discharged the colony from any further payment, bad not himself estimated his loss at that amount.

Mr Atkinson said his contention was that in ihe care of a legal obligation the matter was mutual ; in the case of an appeal to the bounty of the Crown, it was a matter of gratuity. It was not what Meikle had a right to demand, but what it was the duty cf the colony to give. Counsel had not concluded when the commission adjourned. May 3. Meikle, for contempt of Court in threatening a witness', was severely admonished. The Judges faid they would not at present inflict a penalty, but would postpone adjudicating on the matter till tho ccDelusion of the inquiry, and they trusted Meikle’s conduct up till then would justify the Commission in adopting the lenient course suggested by Dr Findlay of dismissing the matter. The last witness called was James White Keely. of Gore, foreman of the jury that convicted Meikle of sheep stealing. The witness warned Meikle when be signed tho receipt for £SOO that it was a full discharge. Meikle replied that he could again appeal to the Government.

John Waddell, farmer, Matanra, also gave evidence, and Meikle was next called.

The proceedings in the morning were important and in the afternoon exciting. Meikle entered the witness box, and after giving evidence as to his and the trial of Lambert, was cross-examined by Dr Findlay as to his character before the trial. Meikle challenged anyone to say that he had done wrong in thought, word, or deed. Dr Findlay said he would accept the challenge, and then proceeded to examine Meikle minutely in regard to bia conduct in a bouse in Invercargill. Witness stoutly denied the allegations, and said the whole thing was an attack on his character. Tbe female owner of tbs house was brought into Court and identified witness as the man who had stayed at her house, but witness still protested his innocence and said it was all a mistake, adding that it was another party who was implicated. The incident was exciting and dramatic.