EMPTY BOAST.

Inangahua Times, Volume VII, Issue 1074, 14 April 1882, Page 2

EMPTY BOAST.

+ ; [to the editor inangahua tihes.] Sir, — We Britishers as a rule arc very boastful of our institutions, our laws, love of justice, and fair play. But if we cast all prejudices aside, and view matters impartially, we will find much of our cherished ostentation conspicuously absent in all our institutions, particularly in our Law Courts. For example, I need only refer to the latest case— that of Silas Gibson, who was convicted on purely circumstantial evMence, and sentenced to three years' hard labour. Ido not mean to say that Gibson was not guilty, nor that the sentence was not a just one ; but I do say there was an entire absence of what I would consider fair play exhibited at his trial. Of course, Gibson was a poor man — he was possessed of no means whatever to enable him to engage counsel in his own behalf. Had the Court under the circumstances instructed one of our soiicitors to watch the case on his (Gibson's) behalf, it would at least have given a tinge of sincerity to our muchly overrated love of fair play. Silas Gibson, as we all know, is a man of very weak intellect, ' and could be easily led to either good or evil, and I have no doubt but that his weakness wa3 taken advantage of when he committed the foul deed, for which he now suffers (if he did do it.) And I also have good reason to believe that had he had the privilege of counsel to direct him aright, justice would have been more fully satisfied, and in all probability punishment meted out to others equally, if not more guilty, than the unfortunate man Gibson. If our laws do not provide justice for the poor as well as the rich, then why so highly eulogise an institu tion which in reality has no existence. — am, &c, Observer. 1 Uocfton, April 1-Jtli, ISSi.