JUDGE LAWSON IN COURT:

Kumara Times, Issue 2089, 11 May 1883, Page 2

JUDGE LAWSON IN COURT:

Mr Justice Lawson opened the Belfast Assizes on March 18th, and, on entering the Court was received with loud cheers. An address was presented to his Lordship from the Grand Jury congratulating him on his recent escape from assassination, and speaking in very high terms of the services which, as Judge, he had i-endered to Ireland. Having warmly thanked the Grand Jurors, his Lordship said that he had before expressed a strong hope that the game of assassination, intimidation, and outrage was nearly played out in the country; but two recent events must cause them to hesitate in arriving at that conclusion. He alluded to the outrage at the public offices in London, and the attempt to assassinate a lady of pronounced Liberal and even Nationalist opinions—an attempt to assassinate her for no offence that he could imagine except that she thought herself justified in challenging the application of the funds of the Land League, These circumstances showed that the snake though soothed, was not killed. It was better that they should know openly with whom they had to deal, and the mode in which they had carried out their assaults. The mask had now been torn away, and they were face to face with the assassin—face to face with him both in Ireland and in England. All who hsd confidence in the power of the law, and in the conviction that order would ultimately prevail over revolutionary and anarchical forces, had no doubt on which side victory would rest.