WARNING GIVEN TO BAR

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 17 June 1933, Page 4

WARNING GIVEN TO BAR

JUDGE ACCEPTS EXPLANATION SOLICITOR'S ALLEGED REMARKS (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, June 16. During the hearing yesterday afternoon of a claim for alleged slander by Reginald Charles Boddie against Jaimes Dickson Sievwiriglit, Boddie complained that he. had been under great mental strain during the hearing. He alleged that Mr A. B. Sievwright, who with Mr P. J. O’Leary is appearing for defendant, had been sitting behind him passing derogatory remarks about him under his breath. Mr Justice Ostler granted plaintiff an adjournment, advising • him. to pull himself together by the next day. . When the Court resumed to-day Hia Honour' .said: “With regard to the incident that occurred! yesterday, it is hiatrdly necessary for me to point out that for a barrister during the hearing of a case in oou/rt to use opprobrious terms to either of the opposing parties is an abuse of his privilege, a grave misdemeanour and contempt of court which the court has both the power and the will to punish. ■ ■ ■ “Mr Si evw right saw me after the Court adjourned last night in company with Mr Evans Scott and explained that he had addressed his remarks not to plaintiff but to his leader. “I must accept the explanation,’ ’ His Honour said, “but it is to be hoped that such an incident will not occur again. Counsel should be able to confer so that if they are using abusive or derogatory terms of the opposing counsel dr party their conversation cannot be overheard.”. . Plaintiff continued his evidence.