TRIAL BY JURY.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3886, 3 January 1884, Page 2

TRIAL BY JURY.

Tho following is a brief description of tho operatic cantata "Trial by Jury," which is to bo performed at the Thoatro Royal to-morrow evening under the direction of Mr G. Garry : —The action is for a breach of promise of marriage, and the scene opens in the court house, where barristers, attorneys, and jurymen aro discovered, together with the usher, and then follows tho opening chorus, after which " Silence in Court is commanded. The jurymen are then marshalled into tho jurybox, when they are reminded by the usher that " from bias froo of every kind this trial must bo tried," at the conclusion of which Edwin (tho defendant) enters, and in reply to their enquiries informs the jurymen who lie is. On learning his identity they shako their fists and caution him to "droad their fury." He remonstrates, aud proceeds to enlighten them on tho merits of his pleadings, aud discloses thofactthathe is in the unfortunate position of lovinganother young lady as well as tho plaiutiff. At tho conclusion of tho defendant's solo, and the chorus by tho jurymen, tho learned judge enters, and after the customary salutations takes his seat on tho bench and tells his '' good friends'' how he camo to bo a judge. The counsel for tho plaintiff afterwards appears and takes his scat, and tho jurymen are sworn. Tho usher then calls Angelina, tho plaintiff, who enters, accompanied by six bridesmaids. The judgo immediately takes a fancy to tho first bridesmaid, and sends her notes by the ushor, but soon gets tired of her, and transfers his admiration to Angelina. After the plaintiff's counsel havo addressed the court Angelina is placed in the witness-box, but appears about to faint, when tho judgo comes down and tcndorly escorts her to the bench, where she is provided with a scat beside hi.s lordship. The defendant, who conducts his own case, then addresses tho court, and explains that to compromise the action, ho is quite ready to marrry both Anglina and his other young lady, but tho plaintiff's counsel points out that "to marry two at once is burglaroe," and quotes the law in support of his contention. Numerous experiments are suggested to got out of the " dilemma," but none are considered suitable, aud eventually tho judgo settles the question by proposing to marry the plaintiff himself, and, Angelina consenting, the caso is disposed of to tho satisfaction of all tho parties interested.