CO129-192 - Governor Hennessy - 1881 [1-4] — Page 394

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All AI Reviewed

the C.J. both in summing up and in passing sentence, recognised the serious character of the libel and admitted that Mr Nelson's

speech in the Chamber of Commerce

was a justification, yet he

was not

a circumstance that might be urged in mitigation of damages in a civil action

or of punishment

in a criminal prosecution, and accordingly he merely

sentenced the convict Piliman to pay a fine of $50 and to be imprisoned till the fine

was paid

The C.J. appears to me to

have taken a

very exaggerated

view of Mr Nelson's speech, but

this perhaps is a matter of opinion,

34 of Pamphlet

and however

386

However lenient the sentence

may have been I suppose it was within the discretion of the judge. The inequality or inadequacy of sentences is frequently a matter of public comment even in their country

I do not therefore

see that Mr Nelson has

made out any

mitigating

case for

an enquiry with

the administration of justice

in Hongkong.

But although Mr

Nelson's speech does appear to me to have been sufficient, scarcely any provocation at all beyond what public men in this country

are exposed to every hour, indeed it was contended by Mr Nelson's counsel that the convict Pitman's calling was a false and slanderous attack

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the C.J. both in summing up and in passing sentence, recognised the serious character of the libel and admitted that Mr Nelson's speech in the Chamber of Commerce was a justification, yet he was not a circumstance that might be urged in mitigation of damages in a civil action or of punishment in a criminal prosecution, and accordingly he merely sentenced the convict Piliman to pay a fine of $50 and to be imprisoned till the fine was paid The C.J. appears to me to have taken a very exaggerated view of Mr Nelson's speech, but this perhaps is a matter of opinion, 34 of Pamphlet and however 386 However lenient the sentence may have been I suppose it was within the discretion of the judge. The inequality or inadequacy of sentences is frequently a matter of public comment even in their country I do not therefore see that Mr Nelson has made out any mitigating case for an enquiry with the administration of justice in Hongkong. But although Mr Nelson's speech does appear to me to have been sufficient, scarcely any provocation at all beyond what public men in this country are exposed to every hour, indeed it was contended by Mr Nelson's counsel that the convict Pitman's calling was a false and slanderous attack

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the C.J. both in summing up and in paping sentence, recognised the serious character of the libel and admitted that Mr Nelson's speech in the Chamber of commerce justification, get he was no a circumstanc treater that speech as which might he urged mitigation of damages in curl action ий or of punishment in a criminal prosecution, and accordingly he merely sentenced the convict Piliman to pay a fine of $50 and toke unprisoned till the frie paid The C. I. appears to me to have taken a very exaggerated view of Mr Nelson's speech, but " this perhaps is matter of opinion, р 34 of Pamphle and however 386 However Lencent the sentence mayhave been I suppose it was within the discretion of the judge. The inequality or indeguany of sentences in préquently matter of public comment even in their country I do not therefore see that Mt Nelson has made out any malituting case for an enquiry wit the administration of justice in Houghong. But although dir Nelson's speech dasses appears to me to have been sufficent scarcely any provocation at all beyond what public men in this country are exposed to everyhour, indeed it was contended by Mer Nelson's counsel that the convict Pitman's calling if a false and Slanderous attack

2026-05-22 07:43:08 · Baseline

View content

the C.J. both in summing up and in paping sentence, recognised the serious character of the libel and admitted that Mr Nelson's

speech in the Chamber of commerce

justification, get he

was no

a circumstanc

treater that speech as which might he urged mitigation of damages in curl action

ий

or of punishment

in a criminal prosecution, and accordingly he merely

sentenced the convict Piliman to pay a fine of $50 and toke unprisoned till the frie

paid

The C. I. appears to me to

have taken a

very exaggerated

view of Mr Nelson's speech, but "

this perhaps is matter of opinion,

34 of Pamphle

and however

386

However Lencent the sentence

mayhave been I suppose it was within the discretion of the judge. The inequality or indeguany of sentences in préquently matter of public comment even in their country

I do not therefore

see that Mt Nelson has

made out any

malituting

case for

an enquiry wit

the administration of justice

in Houghong.

But although dir

Nelson's speech dasses appears to me to have been sufficent scarcely any provocation at all beyond what public men in this country

are exposed to everyhour, indeed it was contended by Mer Nelson's counsel that the convict Pitman's calling if a false and Slanderous attack

CO129-192 - Governor Hennessy - 1881 [1-4] — Page 394

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