An Extraordinary Scene in Court.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume IX, Issue 961, 16 July 1881, Page 2

An Extraordinary Scene in Court.

Yesterday morning one of the first cases called on, in the R.M.’s Court, was H. Lewis v. Boardman Dawson. The latter was not present, and His Worship in the usual course passed judgment for the plaintiff. As Mr. Lewis was leaving the box, Mr. Dawson entered the Court, and asked, “Am I too late ?” His Worship informed Mr. Dawson that judgment had been already passed ; but that if through any accident he had been delayed the case would be resumed. Subsequently the case was heard. Mr. Dawson was undefended, and introduced remarks not only calculated to provoke a breach of the peace, but such as would in most courts, occasion a more serious charge against himself than that of debt. His Worship, however, in a calm and deliberate manner, listened —and having listened, opined that the plaintiff was justly entitled to the amount he claimed. The language used by the defendant, when in the Court, was grossly insulting, so much so in fact that it will hardly bear repetition. He spoke of the plaintiff as being a lineal descendant of the impenitent thief upon the cross ; disputed the power of the English law ; informed the Magistrate that his was not a poor man’s Court, that he (Dawson) knew he would never get justice in it, that he wanted to expose two miserable wretches ; and in general conducted himself in a most peculiar manner. His Worship several times had to call the defendant to order, but it was like trying to subdue a tempest.