of his guilt.
705
In forwarding these papers Sir H. Blake stated.— The case differed in this important particular from those of all the other European officers except Witchell implicated in the Wa Lane case, that there was direct evidence of the payment of bribes to him.
In view of these facts and of Mr. Holt's practical admission of his guilt to the then Chief Inspector Mr. Mackie, who can if necessary be questioned now on the point, I consider Mr. Holt's case on quite a different footing from those European officers who were accorded pensions."
(This despatch is signed by Mr. May, who explains in a footnote that it was approved by the Gov., who however had left the Colony before it was copied for his signature.)
On this Holt was informed that his petition could not be entertained. See Eur/502/03-4
Holt now appeals again, on the ground that his former petition was dealt with by Mr. May as O.A.G., who was prejudiced against him.
This is a mistake, as shown above, but not an unnatural one in view of the unfortunate wording of our former letter to him in which we said that we had communicated with the O.A.G.
I think that substantial justice has been done, and that Holt's attitude was not compatible with innocence. It is unlikely that he was unaware at the time that he was being put on his trial before his commanding officer under the provisions of the police law.
The heading to the notes distinctly states that he was "charged". As an experienced police sergeant he must have known that "no questions and nothing to say" is the usual attitude of a man who has no defence; and if he merely...