In Chief Justic Punch's Court of Final Review.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2849, 2 April 1878, Page 2

In Chief Justic Punch's Court of Final Review.

(With Chief Juttiee Punch* compliment* to Mr William QtUen JBrycnt.J ...... . Chief Justice Punch, on taking his seat, remarked that it was with Borrow he perceived such increasing ill-usage of the Queen's English, lie was glad to ace that his friend Mr Bryant was trjing to put a stop to this sort of crime on the i other side of the Atlantic, and he was j determined if he could, to crash it on this I side. Without further preface he would I now take the first case on the day's list, i Miss Lavinia Jenkinson (44), described , at a norelist, was charged with repeated 1 attacks on her own language. For the prosecution it was proved that the prisoner at the bar had frequently used such expressions as the following:—(1) "Her luxurious masses of golden-hair glinted in the moonbeams like an aureole around the bro* s of a mediaeval saint;" (2) "A swift sudden light broke from her lurid eyes like the lightning, from a summer sky; " (3) " A dark shadow, which marked his Italian blood, mantled orer the clean cut features;" (4) " The tawny moustache dropped faearily on the cruel lips, whose honey poison had lured" ——- Chief Justice Punch would not trouble Mr Toby, Q C, to proceed. Had the prisoner anything to say for herself P The prisoner said the public liked her style. Chief Justice Punch was sorry for the public, bat he considered such a plea was in fact an aggravation of the crime. If the public liked poison, that would not excuse the Brinvillers and Borgias. Despite the prisoner's sex, he felt it. a duty to inflict as heavy a punishment as the law peimitted. The sentence was that the prisoner be condemned to the hard labor of reading her own nereis for the space of three calendar months. The prisoner, who seemed overwhelmed at the severity of the sentence, was removed from the dock in a fainting condition.

Penny A. Lyner (27), described as a journalist, was charged with repeated offences of the same kind. Mr Toby, Q.C., remarked that the proteomtion relied upon one sentence, which, with (he Court's permission, he would read. He must state that during the but •am* mer a chimney took fire in the house of - one Jones, a corn chandler, while the family were at tea. ■■ Thin wag the prisoner s account:—" Yesterday afternoon our worthy feUow-oitisen, Mr Jones, whose mission in life is to purvey the E olden grain to the humble house* olds of the poor, was enjoying the repose of hii own Tine and fig-tree in the bosom of his family. The urn was hissing on the hospitable board, and the fragrant odour diffused through the apartment, clearly indicated the presence or the cup that cheers but not inebriates, when suddenly the deronring element " — The Judge peremptorily stopped the case, and asked the prisoner if be had anything to say. P, A. Lyner replied that he had to lire, and that he was paid by the length of his copy.—Chief Justice Punch said that was no business of his. He mast put the prisoner on short allowance of flimsy, for some time at least, by sentencing him to describe all fires, accidents, murders, and such other erents as came under his notice for the ensuiag five years in as short and simple language as possible* The prisoner was taken out of Oovrf» begging hard for a shorter term. iEolns Glendower Witch Sphynx Aurora (33), described as a sporting prophet* was charged with a similar offence. The counsel, for the prosecution said this was an appalling case of crime. The prisoner was in the habit of calling a good , horse a " clinker;" he wonld express his farorable opinion by terming him a " flyer," . his unfavorable opinion by terming him a " mug." When a person had lott his money .the prisoner would call him "broke" an^aet of cheating he would . call a " ramp.'* Of: the enormities of such phrases- as "fly flats," "standing on relvet," tad " real jam," he would not Ipeak.—Chief Justice. Punch: said this was a rery bad ease, and he felt it his duty - to make an example, however painful it might be. Tbe prisoner would be bound over* to follow his business throughout the entire term of the next raemg season, and to invest his .money on his own prophecies. The prisoner was removed yelling, " I am ruined, my lord, I am ruined."

This concluded the business of the sitting—but a long list of similar cases, we regret to say, remains to be disposed of.—Punch.