CONTEMPT OF COURT.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1985, 5 July 1880, Page 3

CONTEMPT OF COURT.

At the Resident Magistrate's Court, Ashburton, last Friday, Mr Purnell, of the firm of Branson and. Purnell, solicitors, was committed by Mr Guineas, 8.M., to seven days' imprisonment for contempt of Court. Mr Purnell was engaged for the plaintiff in the civil case of Grigg v Luscombe, and was asked by the magistrate to sit down. Mr Purnell declined to do so, on the ground that he was a solicitor of the Supreme Court, that his status in Court was equal to that of the magistrate, and therefore the magistrate had no right to order him to sit down. His Worship said if Mr Purnell persisted in thiß line of conduct he would have to commit him for contempt, to which Mr Purnell replied that it was not the only illegal thing done in that Court. His Worship said he would give him half an hour to reconsider the matter, and on Mr Purnell intimating that he refused to do so, he was sentenced to seven days' imprisonmei. t, and removed in the custody of the police. Subsequently Mr Purnell appeared before the Court, and Baid that he meant no disreapect to the Court, and that he only refused to sit down in the interest of his olient. Mr Guineas said he was glad to receive even the partial apology which Mr Purnell had tendered. Ho had committed him because he refused to obey the orders of the Court, and as he had now apologised he would withdraw the charge. Mr Purnell was then released from custody,