A TERRIBLE CONCOCTION.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 195, 13 September 1888, Page 2

A TERRIBLE CONCOCTION.

Pbbhaps ona of the most scandalous cases that has ever.pome before a New Zealand Law Court was that heard yesterday before Messrs Bennett and Lucas, in which J. M. Bidgood was charged with assaulting a bailiff in the execution of his duty. The case in itself was a common-place one, but the outcome was enough to bring a blush of shame to tbs cheek of any ordinary man ; to make one ask is this a Christian land when husband and wife, daughter and son, can swear on the Bible that they are telling the truth, and yet give such evidence as that given in Court by the Bidgood family yesterday ? Fortunately for Mr Markle, a skilful cross-examination elicited the truth, or ha might now, though an innocent man, have a very strong case of perjury against him. We cannot but pity the woman and her children, because it was evident that their lamentable conduct was not altogether the result of wickedness—it was plain there was a prompter in the affair. For that reason we think they may well be left to ponder over their shameful stories, but we cannot so easily gloss over Bidgood’s conduct. If the matter, so far as he is concerned, is allowed to rest where it is, it will be a disgraceful blot on the records of our Court of law.