Scene in Court.

Manawatu Herald, 14 May 1903, Page 2

Scene in Court.

AN INTEMPERATE TEMPERANCE LECTURER. William Ricljardab^,,‘charged with having published a defamatory libel, created a seeds in the Supreme Court at Auckland on Monday morning. He stated that two constables had sent to- Mr Justice Conolly a copy of his paper containing comment on his Honor’s decision in the Bewes divorce case, which “ would prejudice his Honor in trying the present case if he were human." The Judge said he had not the article referred to and no one had attempted to bias him. Accused; I want an absolutely unbiased trial. His Hooec; Po you say you will

.not get an unbiased trial'at my hands? . , Accused: I want to be quite sure. His Honor; How ? Accused: By having a Judge on the Bench whom I have not criticised. I think I will be able to show that you have shown soma bias. He went on to say that Mr Justice Conolly, in his charge to the Grand Jury, commented on the fact that the newspapers of the colony had escaped the law of libel. His Honor; I said that the newspapers were as a rule conducted by discreet editors and proprietors, and not that they did not publish libels. Accused said he visited Judge Conolly’s residence to see his coachman on political matters. One of ills Honor, (warmly) : I won’t have my daughter’s name mentioned in this Court. Accused said he would mention her name in the Court. His Honor (more warmly) i You shall not do so, and I shall not permit. This is most disgraceful. The accused persisted, whereupon his Honor said he would have accused taken below and looked up if he insulted his daughter. Accused dropped the reference to the Judge’s daughter, but persisted in reading from a newspaper despite his Honor’s protest that , this was irregular. His Honor then ordered the police to lock accused in the cells until he was in a better frame of mind.', .... ... > ; thereupon-seisied accused and at his Honor’s order took the paper from accused. Accused asked “ Do you call this justice ?" He added that ho would go below till the day he died so long ,as -he got-a fair trial.- He also taunted, the Judge with haying his decision in the Bewes case reversed. His Honor said he had made a mistake in a point of law. Accused’s plea was - then taken. The Crown Prosecutor was ready to reply, but accused asked for a remand to further prepare his arguments dnd was remanded accordingly..