A COURT INSULTED.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2672, 14 June 1894, Page 3

A COURT INSULTED.

A scene occurred during the progress of the second Speight v Syme action one day last week. Mr Purves was examining a witness, and suggested that certain alterations iu railway material had been suggested by Mr Allison Smith, who happened to be in Court at the time, and was sitting behind Mr Duffy, Mr Speight’s counsel. This remark by Mr Purves annoyed Mr Duffy, who replied, “Perhaps they were suggested by my learned friend; he appears to boss the whole proceedings.” Mr Purves at once ceased his examination, turned the witness over to Mr Deakin, and walked out, with the remark that he could not stand being talked to by Mr Duffy any longer. Mr Justice Williams thereupon addressed Mr Duffy with considerable warmth, and said, “I must say that the observation made \jy you just now is the most insulting observation I ever had addressed to me, or made in reference to me since I have been on tho Bench, which is a period of thirteen years, —the insulting. You know perfectly well, sir, from the cases in which you have been engaged before me, that 1 am not under the influence of any counsel at this bar, no matter what position counsel occupy. You must know that very well from the many gases in which you have been Opposed to Mr Purves before me. You must know perfectly well that X have some bapkboup, that I can hold my own against any counsel at tho bar, and therefore I think the observation was a cruel one, and a cowardly one to make.” The latter part of the remarks was spoken with some emotion. Mr Duffy attempted au explanation, which His Honor characterised as worse than the original offence, and he thereupon abruptly adjourned the Court.