WARM PASSAGE IN COURT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1447, 23 May 1912, Page 6

WARM PASSAGE IN COURT.

JUDGE AND COUNSEL, (By Telegraph.—Press Association.! Auckland, 'May 22, A brief nossagc-at-nrms took plnco at till) Supreme Court to-day between Mr. Justice Edwards and Mr. T. Cotter, K.C., w.io was engaged in a case concerning a disputed land transaction. Mr, Cotter nanciod tho plaintiff, who was in tho wit-ness-box, a. document, and asked him whether the signature to it was his. His Honour: "What is tho document?" Mr. Cotter: "I will read it to your Honour. His Honour: "I don't want you to r<vid it to mo. As I explained to you tho other day, I can read mvself." Mr. Cotter: "How can'l explain it if your Honour will not let m« read it?" His Honour: "Von can explain very well, Sir; but you don't chooso te " A moment later Mr. Cotter endeavoured to explain his attitude. His Honour: "Mr. Cotter, I won't havo you interrupting mo when I am speaking. \ou arc guilty of the grossest contempt." Mr. Cotter: "I have not been guilty of gross contempt, or of contempt ot till* if your Honour will not hear mo jn a point of personal explanation, I had better sit down." His Honour: "Yon had better sit down. Even when you are sitting down you keep on making remarks." Shortly afterwards, while arguing whether a question was or was not admissible, his Honour remarked to Mr. Cotter: "You will have to mend your ways, so long as I am on the Bench."