REINSTATEMENT SOUGHT

Otaki Mail, 17 December 1919, Page 4

REINSTATEMENT SOUGHT

MR R. £>. MEAGHER TRIES AGAIN. In Sydney, a few days ago, ajiplication was made to the Full Court by Richard Denis Meagher, ex-Lord Mayor of Sydney, and a former Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, for an order of the Court to reinstate him on the roll of solicitors for the Supreme Court of New South Wales. Mr Broomfield, K.C., and Mr O. M Edwards appeared for thß Law Institute to oppose the application. Mr Meagher objected to the Chief Justice presiding on his ease, alleging that Sir William Cullen had given proofs of personal prejudice and animus against him. Tho applicant, who was admitted as attorney of the Court in ISSU, was disqualified from practising in 1896. In support of his case, Mr Meagher read affidavits recounting tho occasions on which he had applied to the C'uurt for reinstatement, and lotting out the facts of the Doan murder ease, in connection with which his name was ordered to be struck off the roils. He denied having been guilty of complicity in the transactions known as the “land scandals.” In 1900, when ho made an application for reinstatement, the Law Institute, ' he supposed, was just as solicitous for tho integrity of the profession as it was to-day, yet the. Law Institute did not then see fit to oppose his application. Mr Meagher referred to the cases of many public men in Australia who had expiated early faults, and had risen to honourable and distinguished positions in the community. The only man, it seemed, who was to be pursued to the end by an implacable wrath was himself. The Chief Justice denied that he was prejudiced against the applicant, and declined to withdraw from presiding over tffi' Court during the hearing of tho application.