THE CONINGHAM CASE.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIX, Issue 16, 18 April 1901, Page 19

THE CONINGHAM CASE.

THE VERDICT. We take the following 1 report of the final stage of the Coningham Case from the Sydney Freeman's Journal :—: — After Mr. Justice Owen's lucid and analytical summing up the jury retired at 5 minutes past 3 o'clock to consider their verdiot and returned into court at 20 minutes past 5. The foreman, in reply to the associate, stated they had agreed upon a verdict. The issues and answers were :—: — Do you find that the petitioner was married to the respondent on March 1 1, 1893 /—Yes. Do (you find that the respondent between June l.">, 1898, and September 80, ISiW, coinmitfr-d adultery with Denis Francis O'Haran, the co-renp(.n.lent ? — No. Do you find th*t thti co-respondent between June 15, IS9B, and September 30, 189.», committed adultery with the respondent I — No. There was applause hi Uie court when the firet am.ouucemont of the verdict wan ni.ine His Honor 1 w.ll h^ve the court cltared if there is such a noise. T.ie Foreman of the Jury : The jury desire to add a rider to their vinii.;i — ' I'u.it m our opinion there is not sufficient evidence to prov'H com piracy in this case.' Hih Hoi'or (to the jury) : I have to thank you for the patient attention you have given to this case, and I think it is fair to add that I agree with the verdict. The foreman asked his Honor whether they could not be discharged from the jury list. His Honor said he had no power to do that. Mr. Ralston : I ask that the co respondent be dismissed from the suit and with costs. His Honor : I make that order. A THEATRICAL DISPLAY. Some of the daily p.ipers which are given to sensationalism have drawn a highly-colored and not «1 ogether a veracious picture of the closing scene, which marked the Conitigham divorce case. The little bit of theatric d by-play in which Ooningrmm figured after the jury's, verdict was not altogether accurately described by the evening paper*. The lachrymose individual who was made to loom so large by the pre^s scribes and figure in so many varying moods withiu the brief penod of one minute may, aa a matter of fact, ba described as a bit of burlefque. Coningham on the announcement of the > erdict, drooped his head and started moaning. After indulging in this f or a few Heconds he stood up and threw himself down on the flu r. He made no attempt, as alleged in tue daily pape a, to put a hand on Dr. O'Haran or anybody else. Several policemen Beized Coningham, and on being removed the extent of his emotion may be judged fmn his first lexuark to the guardian of the peace, ' I have lost a sleeve-link.' A GATHERING OF FRIENDS. A largo crowd, cheering, accompanied the Very RdV. Dr O'Haran as far a-, the cathedral, seveial following to the inner gate At St. Mary's presbytery Bhort congratulatory speeches were male Amongst those preseat were : Messrs. Want, K.O. ; Ralston, L Mort Lyons, T. M Mattery, J. Slattery, T. Hughes, Dr. Flanagan, Sprusou M.L.A. ; Af. Meagher, and T. Purcell. Mr. Want piopo&ed the health of Dr. O'Haran, who, he said, Btood highest in the estimation of the people of the country to-day. Now that the trial had finished he would Bay that from tue outset he bad documents in his possession, which, though not admissible as evidence, conclusively proved Dr. O'Haran "a innocence. Ho gave them his aseuranco, if any were needed after the verdict, that he was in possession of information which the jury were without, that Dr. O'Haran was nn innocent man — his iunocence was beyond doubt. Unfortunately, the foreign issues growing out of the sectarian element clodded the main question, but through all the fires the Very Rev. Dr. O'Haran had passed unscathed. His courage through

the frightful ordeal was remarkable. The toast was drunk with oft renewed and loud cheers. The Very Rev. Dr. O'Haran responded, and said his first words, if his desires were foremost, should have been to propose the health and offer his warmest appreciation to one intellectual giant who had carried him on his shoulders to the victory in the great fight. He coupled with Mr. Want the names of Mr. Ralston and his old friend Mr. Slattery. On such an occasion wordß were insufficient to express the thankfulness of his heart to all those who, with implicit trust in his innocence had fought so well and so successfully to pet at tho truth. He expressed bin utmost gratitude for the prayers and devoted confidence of the whole oommunity in hia months of trial. Whilst he paid this he did not wish to lessen his nppreoiation of the efforts of his legal advisers, whose work was simply wonderful. The Cardinal, pre-sed to speak, congratulated all on the splendid result so long deferred. Every honest man in Australia will Bay that Mr. Want did great work which was well worthy of the man, MESSAGES OF CONGRATULATION. After the result of the verdict was made known his Eminence the Cardinal and the Very Rev. Dr. O'Haran were overwhelmed with congratulatory messages from all parts of the continent, and it is gratifying that those missives came from all sections of the oommunity. Amongst the leading public men who tendered their sympathy and congratulations to the Very Rev. Dr. O'Haran on his vindication and triumph were the Hon. Edmund Barton, the Federal Premier ; the Hon. B. R. Wise, Attorney-General ; the Hon. R. E. O'Connor, Vice-President of the Federal Executive Council ; Sir Joseph Abbott, ex-Speaker of the Legislative Assembly ; Hon. John Meagher, Bathurst ; Hon. J. Toohey, K.C.S.G., Hon. Thomas Dalton, K.0.5.G., Sir William P. Manning, Hon. Nicholas Fitzgerald, Melbourne ; Hon. John Anderson, Melbourne ; Dr. Leo Kenny, Melbourne ; Mrs. Scanlon, Bendigo. The members of the New Zealand hierarchy, through the Most Uev. Dr. Redwood, Archbishop of Wellington, and the Right Rev. Dr. Grimes, Bishop of Ohrietchurch, voiced the feelings of the priests and people ; whilst the Most Rev. Dr. Carr, Archbishop of Melbourne, Right Rev. Dr. Reville, Bishop of Sandhurst, and Right Rev. Dr Moore, Bishop of Ballarat, gave expression to Victorian feeling. A lengthly review of the Coninghaui case is unavoidably held over till next issue.