BENCH AND BAR.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 84, 12 July 1916, Page 3

BENCH AND BAR.

SOLICITOR FINED FOR CON- : * TEMPT. ; * u ;

’* Pb* raRM H BSOOTATION.; Palmerston North, July 11. At the Magistrate’s Gdurt to-day, Mir Hurley, a solicitor of Palmerston,

while cross-examining a., witness, was pulled up h}' the .Magistrate, Mr Hewitt, who said it was quiie unnecessary to ask the witness the same question more than once, as he quite understood what the witness had 'said. Mr Hurley maintained his right to question the witness as he liked. The Magistrate; “You do as I tell you. Will you,sit down?” Mi- Hurley: “You are taking ; advantage of your position.” The Magistrate: “I’ll deal with you.”

j Mr tfprlfey :• Well, deal with me,” j The Magistrate,; the table

and stand aside.” i Mr, Hurley : ‘.ITII stand at * the table.” | .-a v - : _ ( . ’ / The Magistrate (to the' court bailiff) “Wig you get a constable lo remove Mr Hurley?”

i ,Mr Hurlo.V then retired from the solicitor’s table.

i At the conclusion of (he business the. Magistrate charged Mr Hurley with contempt Of Court.

Mr Hurley explained that he had been practising ' for’ twenty-six years and this was the first tithe he had any misunderstanding with a magistrate. He had not sat down as hurriedly as spinet gnen might, but he did not wish to make . tioulilo. ■' , '■,Hiß ;)^p|'sj^p':i \said the' statement' was only fencing with the matter, adding: “I ga-vo you every opportunity to apologise, .arid if you don’t apologise I’ll take proceedings. Pm mu. going >to allow to run this court.” . • jj f - : ; Mr Hurley: “You suggest 1 Mini trying to run the court?” feySffis Worship; “Yes, I do.” ; ll urloy : “That is absurd.” ij’ sp(is Worship; “Well if you don’t .apologise I shall deal ’with you.” MV Hurley: “Is that a threat?” His Worship: “I am. no,, going to i take any more talk of' - that 1 kind ,w|f you apologise unreservedly or not?”

Mr Hurley again repeated his former statement.

His Worship: “That will not suit me.”

. Mr Hurley.: ‘/Weil, what sort of apology do you waul?” 1, His Worship; “I want a straightout apology without equivocation. Mr Hiiriey: “Well, you won’t get

it.” His Worship; “You will be lined £2.”