NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THE Jameson trial was brought to a conclusion on Tues- day. The summing up of the Lord Chief Justice was powerful in manner and comprehensive in matter. The accused were to have the benefit of any doubt that might exist ; but it must be a real doubt such as would influence a man in any important concern in life, and not a doubt conjured up. To constitute an offence of the kind with which the prisoners were charged, it was not necessary that the military expedition fitted out to proceed against the dominions of a friendly Power should actually proceed. "The offence is complete if the person aids and abets the preparation with that intention." In other words, the offence is loading the pistol with intent to use it for an unlawful purpose. It is not the mere discharge that constitutes the crime. The Lord Chief Justice went on to show that, in fact, the expedition started from British territory, and to summarise the evidence as to the facts of the Raid. Ultimately he left to the jury a series of questions which were briefly :—(1) Were preparations for a raid made by the defendants P (2) Did they aid, abet, counsel, or procure such preparation ? (3) Were they employed in the actual expedition? (4) Did the Queen exercise dominion and sovereignty in Pitsani-Pitlogo P
