The Grenville-Murray case has entered on a new phase. The
charge of perjury against Mr. Murray was re-opened on Thurs- day, when it was found that he had gone to France to release his son, temporarily confined in a ?liaison de sante, and had been attacked with dysentery. At least, that was the statement made by his counsel, and supported by a telegram from er. Murray containing a copy of a medical certificate. It is usual in such cases to allow a postponement, but Mr. Knox, evidently disbelieving the reality of the excuse, ordered Mr. Murray's surety to pay £500, estreated his recognizauces, and issued a warrant for his arrest whenever found in England. There is a little too much of the court-martial on the face of all this:, If Mr. Knox knew that Mr. Murray had fled to avoid justice, he was in the right, but if not, it was a little hard to fine a peefectlyt innoeent surety 2,300 for what might be nobody's fault. Mr. Murray may deserve to be hanged, but still it is usual in courts of justice to try all prisoners according to fixed rules, and one of them is to accept a surgeon's report as to the inability of his patient to attend. If Mr. Murray had really fled, he was not more likely to return on Thursday week than on Thursday, and hurry makes people who do not deserve that position look like martyrs.
Previous page
