Changes

The agitation for the reprieve of Edward Kelly warns us that it is high time to devise some means of protecting the Governor and the Executive from the painful and indecent pressure which they endured in that case, and to which they are liable in the future on the occasion of any [[Ned Kellys End|capital conviction]]. The theory of a court of appeal in criminal cases is quite unknown to the English law. Every issue of fact is committed for discussion to the jury, and for all practical purposes their finding is conclusive. If there be a question whether the facts proved constitute an offence in law, or whether evidence admitted at the tail was lightly admitted, the judge may reserve the point for the consideration of the Supreme Court, but the verdict cannot be impeached or disturbed on the ground that it was contrary to the evidence, or that new evidence tending to discredit it has been discovered since the trial. A prisoner wrongly convicted cannot be declared innocent, but he is not absolutely without redress.