BEARDING THE LORD CHIEF JUSTICE.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3069, 28 April 1881, Page 3

BEARDING THE LORD CHIEF JUSTICE.

;An exciting and most extraordinary scene occurred in the Court of Queen's Bench recently. It originated in an action of ejectment brought by a builder named Downs against a person named Fowke, a tobacconist, of 38, High-street, St. Giles's. The action was for non-payment of rent and taxes and work and labor done, and the claim was £210. The defendant, in whose family the house had been upwards of 100 years" pleaded that his business had suffered seriously by the long time the plaintiff had spent in carrying out the necessary repairs, and paid £50 into Court ;in satisfaction of all claims. The Lord Chief Justice having summed up, the jury returned a verdict for.the plaintiff for £170. The defendant, who gave his testimony under the obligation of an affirmation, rose from bis seat on the verdict being given, and fixing his gaze on his lordship, exclaimed in a loud tone, " I am robbed ; I am robbed in this Court." The Lord Chief Justice —Stop, sir ; stop, sir. Defendant—l'll not. I have been robbed in this Court. The Lord Chief Justice, rising from his seat and speaking wil_ authority to the defendant, again said—Stop, sir, or I will commit you. Defendant —I don't care. I say it is a " swindle." I have been robbed by you twice. I have been robbed by you; you are a disgrace to the Bench. The Lord Chief Justice —Take him away. Nichols, one of the ushers of the Court, approached the defendant, and, laying his hand upon his shoulder, said, " Come, leave the court." The Lord Chief Justice, who had been standing on the bench, then left it in a hurried manner. The people who were in the court at the time rose from their seats, evidently much surprised, and some one cried out, " Take him to gaol." The defendant—" I don't care j I'd rather go to gaol than be robbed ;" and while thus exclaiming the tipstaff of the court entered and took defendant into custody and bore him away, the defendant still exclaiming, "I've been robbed ! " While the scene in court was going on several voices exclaimed "Shame !" The defendant was removed by the tipstaff of the court.