BARON BRAMPTON.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 29, 4 February 1899, Page 1 (Supplement)

BARON BRAMPTON.

EXAMPLES OF HJS WIT OX THE

BENCH

The elevation of Mr Justice Hawkins to the title of Baron Brampton and his retirement from the Bench robs the London Law Courts of the most witty man who has adorned the seat of justice in recent years.

Pie once had a most amusing dialogue with a prisoner, after the Jatter had been on his trial for horse stealing.

'Why. did you steal this horse'?' asked the judge.

"To earn my livin" replied the occupant of the dock, sullenly.

"Bather a bad way of earning' your livelihood, is it not?'

'Must do something,' the prisoner remarked, oft-hand.

'So you must,' said the judge. 'Try six months' hard labour.'

A well-known member of the Bar was one day prosecuting, before Mr Justice Hawkins, a man for stealing among other articles a halter. The barrister in question seemed to be having a struggle with the letter 'll,' and on this occasion consistently kept referring to the "alter.'

The judge endured this for the better part of an hour; at last, however, he summoned the Clerk of Assize, and seriously asked him:

•IS THIS THE CROWN COURT?'

'Yes, my lord; I believe so,' replied the astonished official.

'Thank you,' iespondecl the occupant pf the justice seat. 'I thought,l had found my way into an ecclesiastical

inquiry.'

The judge has often been heard to say that there are too many law books. Meeting a young law student, who had just offered himself for the admission examination, he asked him what he had read in preparation for the ordeal. The youngster named about all the elementary treatises from Blackstone's Commentaries to date. In addition, he had studied the codes, much political science—in fact he said he had perused every likely book he could lay his hands upon.

'My heavens, boy,' exclaimed the judge, 'you've read enough to ruin your chances as a lawyer for life.'

Curiously enough, Mr Justice Hawkins is something of a poet—about the last prominent personage one would have expected to be a wooer of the muse. He has, however, written two little poems dedicated to his favourite dogs. 'Why don't you publish them?' once

'Why don't you publish them?' once asked a friend.

Publish them!' replied Sir Henry, with horror depicted on his face. 'I, "the hanging judge," as they call me, turned poet. Oh, no—no.'

Sir Henry Hawkins is fond of wearing his hair very short, and this fact once led to a droll episode. When on circuit he and a brother judge went for a walk. Becoming thirsty the twain entered a wayside inn, in the rear of which two labourers were playing skittles.

THE LEGAL LIGHTS

joined in the game, each taking one of the players as. a partner. Getting hot, Mr Justice Hawkns took oft" his coat. Soon, however, the heat forced him to remove his hat also, at which his partner at once stopped playing. 'Go on, my friend,' said he of the law; 'why do you stop?' '1 don't mind being neighbourly,' said the man, with his eyes fixed on the judge's closely-cropped head, 'but I'm 'anged if I be agoin' to play skittles with a ticket-of-leave man!'

Sir Henry is well known as a keen sportsman, anent which two good stories are told. He was some time back on circuit in a western town, accompanied, as usual, by his favourite terrier. A large crowd had assembled at the railway station to witness his arrival.

The judge was once staying with a magnate near Chester. It was the opening day of the assizes, and a large party, including the bishop of the diocese, were there to meet him. It happened that Sir Henry arrived at the House an hour late, and earlier in the day one of the company had seen him quit the London train at Chester. Therefore it was generally agreed that the Chester Cup—which was being run for that day—had made him late. At luncheon the host asked the judge, 'Do you know the Cup winner?' Sir Henry looked surprised. 'Oh, the Chester' Cup. I saw a crowd in a field near the railway and heard newsboys calling "Winner of the Cup," that's how I knew it was the Cup Day.' 'Aud didn't you buy a paper.' the bishop maliciously put in. A look such as he assumes when sentencing a man to death came on the judge's face as he replied, 'No; I thought' it was unnecessary to buy one. I knew I should have the privilege of meeting your lordship to-night.'