A COURT INCIDENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 164, 2 July 1908, Page 3

A COURT INCIDENT.

To the Kditor. Sir,—Kindly allow me space in your valuable columns to respectfully criticise an incident occurring during tlie present Supreme Court sessions. The incident under notice is the action of his Honor Mr. Justice Edwards in lining a fellow-' citizen .12 for simply chipping bis hands I along with others at the announcement I of a decision from the jury. The line o! £2 in itself was harsh enough, but to be first addressed "Are you drunk?'' and then -See thai he pays it before he leaves the Court" is savoring very much of Russian justice. Surely, sir, in a democratic country like New Zealand one hardly expects such autocratic demeanor on the part of our Judges, who are but fioivrmiicnt salaried ' official*, and whilst we electors are coiitributiiig I our quota towards maintaining them ill their present positions we should certainly expect liberal treatment. 1 am quite aware, sir, that the dignity and order of the Court must be observed, but surely such extreme measures are not required when police orderlies are always in attendance for that purpose, -and, in any case, a stern rebuke from his Honor would have more than the desired effect during the sessions. It ''s humiliating to think that" fellow-citizen can be treated in tb>;..ianncr when the worst criminal before the Court can at least demand a trial before he is proved or pleads guilty.—l am, etc. JUROR.