A Considerate Judge

Feilding Star, Volume VII, Issue 148, 25 May 1886, Page 2

A Considerate Judge

On the jury list, being called rover at the Queensland Supreme Court, in the Queensland Piano * ; and/* }&&% Warehouse Company v Koening, the first (the Brisbane Courier estate) allowed to pass unchallenged 'into* the box was Mr C. A. Feilberg, editor of the Brisbane Courier. ,The .Chigf Justice, noticing the circumstance, inquired whether it was customary to exempt journalists from service on the jury, and was informed that ?the courtesy was usually extWdfed M t<>. pressman, but they had no legal right to be exempted. His Honor thought gentlemen who were connected with the press, who had frequently to work until a late hour in the night, ought not to be called upon to perform such duties during the day. Mr T. J. Byrnes, who represented the plaintiff in the cause, remarked that the case, was a very short one. The Chief Justice : " That does not matter. It is a hard measure if a man has to work both night and day. I will discharge Mr Feilberg if the parties do not objeot. Mr Byrnes intimated he had no objection to offer, and the defendant, who conducted his own case, expressed himself in similar terms. Mr! Feilburg accordingly withdrew and consulted with Mr Drake, who, a few minutes afterwards, said he had been requested by Mr I'eilburg • toi inquire whether that gentlemen would be excused -irom attettdatiee'f^fllir^e-' mainder of the sitting. His Honor replied " I cannot accede .to. that request, but if 'Mr Feilberg doe^not, attend to-morrow morning I shall notj fine him. There ought to be a revi** sion of the exemptions from the jury list. There are some people, off who. mighty very well be on, while there > ate others on who might very well be a&." ■■ -..-iu 1 . ; ;■>-■••-■>■■ -'V *■■'* *A.<y urA.