BENCH AFFRONTED.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1500, 24 July 1912, Page 6

BENCH AFFRONTED.

by a litigant. ■"WORDS" IN AUCKLAND COURT, !By Tolejraph.—Press Association.) • Auckland, July 23. • 'Tuesday morning at the Magistrate's Court is: not -usually productive of unusual incidents, as tho cases dealt with ■ are mainly undefended. Some little excitement, however, was caused during the . case of John Currie v. J. H. Hannan, in which plaintiff claimed .£23 lGs. 6d. for preparing plans for additions to defendant's house'at Rcmuera, and for advertis- , • ing for-tenders. . Defendant was. represented by Mr. Gould,'' but, after some legal argument on a counter claim, tho latter informed Mr. C; C.-Kettle, S.M., that his client had oxpressed a wish to conduct the case . Himself, and he would therefore ask leave ' to retire. - Mr. Hannan then advanced to tho vicinity of the Bench, and said that lie wished to appear on his own behalf, and ' would ask that tho case be allowed to ' island down unless it could be heard by another magistrate, as ho had not been ' satisfied with his treatment in the past. • Mr. Kettle: You can apply to the Su 7 pronio Court for a'prohibition if you like, but lam going on with tho case. You "".'have no right to come here and practically insult'the .Bench in this way. Mr. -Hannan then asked that tho case might stand down till tlio afternoon, so • that ho might'get a legal opinion. "I ' '.'"did not expect that your Worship would .. take, the case,", he added. "I think your • Worship knows iny p feelings." Mr.'Kettle: ;'I "don't know your feelings! I'can't discuss that.! I want_ to /know whether Mr. Trinks (for tho plain'tifT) is prepared 'to wait. Mr, Tanks: I don't wish to take advantaK<s of Mri Hannan's position. Mr, Kettle: Well, it seems that his soli- • fcitor has" thrown'up his brief. "■' ' Mr. Tunks: Mr. Gould did not throw, rip-"his.brief. I believe he was asked to retire, from the"'case. ■ • Tlio adjournment asked . for by Mr. Hannan was then ■ granted. .On the Court resuming'this afternoon, - ' Mr. Hannan rose and said: "I must respectfully, request' your Worship to allow ■ the case to stand down, to enable it to ■'■'. bo'.heard by :another .magistrate.". Ho then read a statement from a paper, in the course of which he complained of : the way that lie had been treated in ' . the Court, and that lie''was 'convinced . that he 1 could not get justice unless the case were heard beforo another; magis- \ trate. ■ . Mr. Kettle:. Hand me that paper. ; ' Mr. Hannan: Tho notes are in y own. Mr. Kettle: I "order .you to hand me Hie notes. I will 1 forward them at onco . '•'to -tlio Minister' for Justice, so. that ho lnav take such 'proceedings as lie thinks fit , ' • , Mr. Hannan: They are only rough tnotes, your Yforship./ . • • Mr. KcttleV Hah'd. them to me! Y: Mr. Hannan .was: still refusing, saying : - .that he wb'iild niake'a.copy'., ' Mr.' Kettle: • Iy-order you to: sit down, - and ma% .a-copy'now. Mr., Hannan: I'm' a bit. agitated,, your AVorship. I 1 would like to.malce a,copy in ray o\vn office. > . 'Mr.: Kettle: .Ve'rr .well. '~' Only I will : Tequire <yon to make tlie copy, and bring ■1' it this afternoon. ' Mr. Hannan. then left tlm Court, re.V marking that he was sorry that he could not'aarree to the/case being heard, but he felt thnt the injustice.! that ho had suffer- : " ed; in tho past wa's'too' severe. M'. Tanks then rose, and said that ho ' . Tnnch..'Tegr'etted. tli.e> allegations .that had 'KeSh' made 1 by''Mr. 'Itantian against the Bench, and'he felt that lie expressed tho oni'nion of all the members nf the Bar ■'■•who had appeared before Mr. Ke'tlo 'when he gave them an emohatie denial. ' The caso was then further adjourned.