COURT AMENITIES.

Evening Star, Issue 4282, 16 November 1876, Page 2

COURT AMENITIES.

There were some sharp passages-at-arms in the City Police Court this afternoon during the hearing of a charge of arson against Andrew Grainger. Inspector Mallard was cross-examining one Margaret Johnston, when the witness contradicted a statement by witnesses for the prosecution that the accused was at Broad Bay on the night in question. Thereupon the following occurred ;

Inspector Mallard: Then the witnesses for the prosecution have stated what is not correct?

, Mr Dennis ton objected. Thin was only an inference. J

Ins P ector: .1 cannot be interrupted like this, Mr Denniston. Your remarks are no doubt well meant, but I wish you would allow me to go on as I please. Mr Denniston : I must interrupt; I have not to consider Mr Mallard’s feelings, but the accused’s interests. * The Inspector : If I am to go on with this examination I must beg of your Worships to protect me from trivial interruptions. Mr Denniston was willing to cease interruptions if the Bench held they were improper. But the line of cross-examination now being proceeded with was utterly irregular. * r Inspector: If you go on in this way 1 shall not take the slightest notice of anything yon say. . Mr Denniston: Then I shall appeal to the Court to make you. The cross-examination was resumed, and Mr Denniston was looking at the depositions as being written by Mr Somerville, Clerk to the Court, when

Inspector Mallard directed the Court’s attention to the fact, alleging that Mr Denpiston was dictating to the Clerk what he should write.

Mr Denniston (angrily): Will you kindly ascertain your facts before stating them. I deny the assertion, and ask Mr Somerville to do so.

Mr Somerville : He was only seeing what x WTOvvi , The Inspector: I have never seen the like in my experience. Here is My Denniston standing at Mr Somerville’s elbow telling him what to write. °

. Denniston: I beg to give a most positive denial to that statement. Mr Griffen, J.P.; The Bench does not believe Mr Somerville would be dictated to. The Inspector; lam quite well aware he would not. But I am not going to be told by Mr Denniston how to conduct my case. Mr Denniston ( soiio . voce ): You might benefit by such advice. 8 The Inspector thought it was rather too late in the day for him to be talked to in that way. He considered such remarks most unbecoming. He appealed to their Worship* once and for all to put it down. Mr Denniston would take no further notice of what fell from Mr Mallard, as it was not the first or second time he had had to complain that day. If he (Mr Denniston) chose to bandy words he could do sou but be declined to notice them.

A few minutes later a youth named AlU n was in the witness-box, and he was reminded by the Inspector that he was sworn to &11 the truth, when

Mr OeMißton submitted that the Benoh only had the right to lecture a witness. The Inspector : I rise to q Mr L'enniston: Ypur Worships,' Mr Mallard nses to a point ©f order. Be thinfche is addressing a public meeting. T tie Bench hoped the case would be conducted more quietly; otherwise there was no prospect of its terminating. The Inspector appealed to their Worships as to whether he had ever assumed a lector! mg air to a witness during the time he had conducted the cnminal business of the

Mt Dsiuiiston: "Vf/n I>?tc don?) "" to-rlfiy. The Inspecti-r (hotly) : Let me say I will not bo spoken to in the manner you have addressed me to*day, Mr Denniston. It is moat unbecoming, and, whether professional or not, I can only say it is most tmgentlemanly. Mr Denniston; If you had some professional gentleman to conduct your case, the cross-examination would be conducted in a seeming manner. The Inspector: Mr Denniston has quietly retorted as to the necessity of a professional gentleman being engaged. I think I have arrived at that age which admits of my having sufficient experience to treat the remark with silent contempt. Mr Denniston: But you don’t do so, but treat us to an oration at every opportunity. The Inspector: If these interruptions continue I shall ask for an adjournment. Mr Denniston: If the adjournment is for the purpose of getting the presence of a professional gentleman I shall only be too happy to accede to such a request. Mr Mallard remarked that he could quite understand the personal tenor of Mr Denniston’s remarks.

One Cassidy was called as to receiving a pig, and in cross-examination the witness stated he knew nothing of the accused’s movements on the day of the alleged arson. Mr Denniston contended that the depositions were being overloaded. The Inspector: Then Mr Denniston does not know what the depositions are for. I am sorry to have to make such a remark concerning the profession, brU— Mr Denniston would ask Mr Mallard to be careful what he said concerning the profession, otherwise he (the learned counsel) would use language to him that the Inspector would be sorry for. The Bench stopped the altercation, and refused to allow it to go further.