THE LATE JUDGE MACOBOY.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 145, 27 March 1872, Page 3

THE LATE JUDGE MACOBOY.

The Bendigo Advertiser gives the following biographical sketch of this gentleman. “Michael Francis Macoboy was born in Cork in the year 1812, being the son of Mr David Macoboy, of an old and respected family in that city. He was educated forthe law, and graduated at Trinity College, Dublin. In 1842 he was called to the Irish bar, and lie practised in Dublin for several years, till at the latter part of his career in Dublin law-courts, he became one of the leading barristers in Ireland. The cases in which he particularly gained distinction were the celebrated Kelly and Ciauricarde suits, the latter being the greatest in the annals of Irish jurisprudence. The case was heard in the Four Courts, Dublin, before Chief Baron Pennefather, the blind Judge, who had been led into the court and to the bench. The learned judge was distinguished for Ins wonderful memory. He was accustomed to listen to the evidence, and hear the arguments without taking a single note. At the ceuclusion of MrMacoboy’s speech, which on that occasion lasted four hours, Baron Pennefather said it was the .most complete, able, and logical address which he had ever heard on the bench'; and he stated that during the whole of the time the Court had been spell-bound and fascinated by the argument. Mr Macoboy, although a Catholic, was at the time retained for the Protestant bishop, who entertained a profound respect for him on accouut of his liberality of mind and freedom of thought and speech. He was the junior counsel in the case, and at the last moment he was deserted bv his learned seniors, and was consequently compelled to undertake the sole responsibility of the case ; and when he went into Court in the morning, he had not the remotest idea that he would be called upon to sustain the whole argument. In the Kelly case, which has now become almost apart of Irish history, remarkable for its romantic features and circumstances, Mr Macoboy appeared for Miss Thule, and achieved part of his early reputation, and commenced a brilliant and successful career at the bar. He subsequently weut to London, and became connected with the English Piess, and amongst other journals he contributed to the leading columns of the Times. Fifteen years ago he left the old country, and c-aine to this colony bringing with him credentials from some of the highest peii sonages in Great Britain, including Lord John Romilly, riir Matthew Barrington, Chief Baron Peacock, Judge Keogh, and Lord Napier, the President of the Privy Council. He began to practico in Melbourne, and worked at the bar for one year, when he was elevated to the County Court Bench, by Mr Fellows, the then Attorney-General.”