A SCENE IN COURT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 1, Issue 89, 20 April 1880, Page 2

A SCENE IN COURT.

The frequent passages at arms which occur between members of the bar in pur local court sometimes tends to lower the legal dignitaries in question in the the public ; but from the graph, clipped from a Wellington jotBB»j, it will be seen that both lawyers and witnesses —even if the witness is a bank manager —in the Empire City sometimes conduct themselves in such a way as to require to be “ sat upon” by the presiding magistrate : During the hearing of the case of Hunt v. Tolhurst at the Resident Magistrate’s Court, a very lively scene took place. Mr. Tolhurst was being examined by Mr. Edwards, who appeared as solicitor for the plaintiff. Both gentlemen began mildly, but as the examination proceeded they waxed warmer and warmer, until both arrived at a state of heat. Mr. Edwards not being satisfied with Mr, Tolhurst’s answers, persisted in reiterating the questions again and again, accompanying his repetitions with some uncomplimentary allusions to Mr. Tolhurst’s powers 6f intelligence. The bank manager resented this, and on Mr, Edwards asking a question which was more pointed than pertinent, gave vent tp a contemptuous exclamation of impatience, which sounded something like the word “ fool.” At any rate, Mr. Edwards understood it so, and retorted with great warmth. How the wordy war would have ended, had the disputants been left to themselves, it is impossible to say; but at this stage Mr. Mansford interfered, and administered a severe rebuke. He said during his career as a magistrate he had generally been able to keep witnesses, solicitors, and others who appeared before him within bounds, and that on the few occasions when he had not been able to do so, he had found it the best plan to adjourn the court. If the gentlemen who were forgetting themselves in the present case did not proceed more quietly he should feel obliged to postpone the case. This had the effect of bringing the two gentlemen to order, and the case went on smoothly afterwards.