JUDGE’S SUSPICIONS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2087, 23 May 1907, Page 3

JUDGE’S SUSPICIONS.

WORDS OVER THE TELEHONE,

During his summing-up in the Crick-Willis case at Sydney last week Mr. Justice Simpson had something to say to the jury about' why j|t< was necessary to keep them locked up during the hearing of the case, and in the course of his remarks some rather sensational episodes were related."

“The other day,” said His Honor, “somebody rang up the Sheriff’s offi‘ ce, wanting to speak to me. I sent my associate to the telephone. The man said he was speaking from the Chief Justice’s office. The evident idea was to get into comunication with me. My associate heard from this person, whoever lie was, three words, and rang him off. The associate asked me did I wish to| know these words, and I said ‘no.’ But I will know by-and-bye, and if the person can be traced, he will be brought before the Supreme Court and dealt with, probably very severely.” “The other night at my house,” His Honor added, “somebody rang me up while X was enjoying/a smoke. I. said : ‘Who are you ?’-• The V'eply was, ‘So and so. Don’t you know my voice.’ He gave me the name of | a most respectable solicitor in this j town, whom I had known for years, but whom I did not meet often. He is a man beyond reftccjtion|.- 'Well', the man on'the other end of the telephone said he was so and so and said he wanted to speak to mo privately. I immediately shut him off, saying, ‘You must not speak to me officially or privately; good night.’ You see, gentlemen of the jury, a jna'n cannot be-too careful these times. They, .are all smart, but they are not smart enough. That is why you are locked up during the hearing of this case. You see it woidd be dangerous for you to be about.” The,foreman (Mr. C. J. Hill): We fully realise CTI3T, 'Your Honor. His Honor: You see, too, the necessity for the reading of letters that come for you, The foreman: Wo realise that too. His Honor: My associate inquired and found that this attorney did not ring me up. Somebody gave me- a false name, and I have not the least doubt that he wanted to say something about this case. 'Whether in the interests of Crick or Willis or against them, I do not know. Defendant Willis : Probably against me.

His Honor: X placed myself in communication with the detective police at once, and the detectives have a very good idea who that man X have no doubt that he is the same man who said lie was speaking from the Chief Justice’s chamber. T mention this fact, gentlemen, to show you that there is no unnecessary; hardship in having you locked up.:

Tlio foreman: We know it is necessary. Your Honor. His Honor then resumed his summing up—which altogether occupied (with the reading of certain evidence) Id hours and 40 'minutes,

Ono ounce of gold will cover’ more than 100 miles of tho silvor wire used for making gold lace. England annually produces about 300,000 ounces of gold thread.

Madame Clara Butt, the loading contralto singor of tho world, who shortly visits Australia and Now Zealand, undor tho management of Messrs. J. and N. Tait, relates tho following experience which happenod to her after ono of her concorts:—“l have more than onco, on leaving tho Concert Hall, boon accosted by peoplo who, after thanking me for the pleasure my singing had afforded them, have boggod to be nllowod to bring some afflicted rolativo to hoar me sing, assuring mo at tho samo time .if their confidence in the cortainty of a euro. My singing of ‘Abide With Mo,’ in tho minds of such people, seoms to bo perfectly efficacious, for I have noticed that it is generally after that song that those requests are most numerous.”