Denounced by judge

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 October 1940, Page 4

Denounced by judge

WOMAN WHO CONDUCTED HER OWN CASE “GROSS ABUSE OF PROCESSES OF LAW.” SENTENCE OF IMPRISONMENT. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.) (Received This Day, 9 a.m.) MELBOURNE, This Day. A woman plaintiff, who conducted her own case in the County Court for six days in an endeavour to establish her claim to her ownership of furniture which had been removed from her house occupied by her, at the order of her husband, was ordered by Judge Foster to undergo imprisonment for fourteen days. The woman was Edna Frances Isaacs and her husband John Isaacs, a brother of Sii' Isaac Isaacs former Governor-General and former Chief Justice of the High Court.

After deciding the claim against the woman, the judge said that never in the long history of Courts had there been so gross an abuse of the processes of law as had taken place in this case. “She deliberately, in spite of my efforts and warnings, ignored the Court’s rules and utilised the opportunities her own cunning devised to denounce and defame witnesses,” said his Honour. “She is utterly unworthy of any credence. She was guilty of gross prevarication throughout the hearing. Her conduct revealed unbounded malice and vindictiveness. The evidence revealed her motive — greed. She denounced and besmirched her husband, while mouthing affection. She accused Sir Isaac Isaacs of the vilest behaviour, without the remotest thread of warrant or justification. In view of the publicity given to this case, I wish to pay a humble tribute to Sir Isaac, to his noble services to Australia and the grace with which he adorned the highest office the country could confer on any citizen. I direct her to pay all costs. I should be failing in my duty if I did not take appropriate steps to punish this grave offence and I order her to be kept in custody for 14 days.”