THE LAW SOCIETY AND HUGH SHORTLAND.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 249, 20 October 1893, Page 3

THE LAW SOCIETY AND HUGH SHORTLAND.

STRUCK OFF THE ROLL OF

SOLICITORS,

(BY TELEGRAPII. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

Wellington, this day.

In the Court of Appeal at Wellington yestorday, a motion was mado to make absolute a rule nisi obtained in the Supreme Court, Auckland, to strike Hugh Rutherford Shortland oil tho roll of solicitors. Mr Theo. Cooper, of Auckland, appeared for tho Auckland Lw Society in support of the motion, and Mr Morrison showed cause. The proceedings were taken under the Law Practitioners Act, 1882. The grounds upon which tho motion waa made were (1) that the defendant had been guilty of gross professional misconduct ; (2) and furthor that defendant had been guilty of an indictable offence. The first ground arose out of a. bill of costs renderod by the defendant to a person named Taylor ; and second, his conviction for criminal libel. Tho evidence taken at tho trial two years ago in tho Auckland Supreme Court was read. Mr Morrison, in showing cause asrainst making the rule absolute, said that Shortland was suffering from a very common form of mania. Ho held that tho conduct of tho man betrayod the greatest mental confusion. A statement of contrition was put in by tbe defendant. The Chief Justice and Justices Williams, Dennis ton and Uonolly were on the Bench, and they decided that be defendant was not fit to remain on tho roll. Tho Chief Ju3tico said that such a porson was to be pitied bocause of'his misfortune, but other persons wero to be protected against criminal acts committed by such a man, who was of a vicious mind, and not a person to bn allowed to continue a rnomber of the lognl profession. The Court ordered the name of tho defendant to bo shnckeff tho roll of solicitors of tho Supremo Court, with cost 3 against the defendanb,