SCENE IN AN IRISH COURT.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 406, 28 September 1889, Page 5

SCENE IN AN IRISH COURT.

Dr. Tanner, M.P., Imprisoned for a Month.

At Tipperary Messrs. Vesey Fitzgerald and H. Bruon, stipendiary magistrates, resumed the hearing of a charge again&t Dr. Tanner, M.i*. The offence with which defendant was charged was thai of spitting at County Inspector Stephens on the 2nd of May last. Mr Ryan, Q.C., instructed by Mr George Bolton, appeared for the Crown. Though the case was adjourned ior the purpose of enabling Dr. Tanner to produce evidence for the defence, when asked to do so by the magistrates, he asked them whether they thought he was going to subject gentlemen of position, worth, intellect, and standing to the insult of placing tham upon the table before such a court. He then proceeded to make a rambling and violent speech, in the course of which he defied the court and insulted the magistrates, Ac its close the court adjourned for twenty minutes. When the magistrates returned into court Mr Fitzgerald delivered judgment. He yaid there was no occasion to go through the details of the assault ; they were too disgusting to dwell upon. (Dr. Tanner: Hoar, hear.) Mr Fitzgerald said that the evidence of the County Inspector testifiod to if, and Constable Duggan distinctly stated that Dr. Tanner when in the carriage said, ' Get out of the way until

I Spit On Stevens.' Therefore, it appeared that this very disgraceful and horribly insulting act of assault was not only committed but premeditated. He could not conceive a worse or more degrading thing, particularly because Mr Stevens was there in the dischai^ge ot his duty — a gentleman dressed in the Queen's uniform, and there he had to stand and submit tamely to one of the loulest insults that one man could offer another. There could bo no possible doubt as to the facts of the case. ( Dr. Tanner : Thaaks. ) The case we consider to be practically proved, and under the most disgrace ful circumstances, there being no political reference whatever. It was a hoirible and dirty insult, and the sentence of the court is that the defendant be imprisoned for one month, with hard labour. That case being disposed of, we are now obliged to refer to the very disgraceful and insulting language. — Dr. Tanner : Will you give me an opportunity of appealing ? — Mr Fitzgerald :

Sit Down, Sir ; make your application when I have done. The defendant has made use of words of a most outrageous and insulting character to the bench. I took down the words myself, j He said, 'Do you think I would subject gentlemen of position to the gratuitous insult of placing them on the table before you ?' He also said, ' I am sentenced by you with the sentence in your pockets ;' and again he said, * Do your worst; send me to gaol ; I defy you,' So far as the personal feelings of the bench goes it does not matter: but we have a duty to perform. Wo are put here by the Legislature, and we owe it to the dignity of the court to uphold so far as possible that dignity and respect. We therefore, for this wilful and outrageous behaviour, and insulting and defaming justice, adjudge that the defendant do enter into sureties to be of good behaviour for the space of twelve inonths,himself in £200 and two sureties af £100 each, or in default to be imprisoned for three months, to run from now. — Dr. Tanner : Will you give me an opportunity of appealing ? — Mr Fitzgerald: "No. — Dr. Tanner (excitedly) : You dare not. — The defendant was then taken into custody, and removed to Clonmel Gaol in the evening. He refused to give bail.