SHORTEST TRIAL ON RECORD.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 183, 2 August 1913, Page 17

SHORTEST TRIAL ON RECORD.

HOW CASES WERE HL'STLED AFTER DINNER. In these days of criminal trials long drawn out it may not be uninteresting to glance back at a time when, in England at least, complaint ran in the opposite direction. Such were the earlier years of Qneen Victoria, when the old criminal code still survived in much of its archaic barbarity, and the pictnresqueness of legal procedure inadequately compensated for its cruelty. The late Lord Brampton, better known as Sir Henry Hawkins, refers iv his Reminiscences to the scandal of what lie calls the ■lifter-dinner" trials of that period. It was then the custom for the court to adjourn for dinner at flve o"clock. at which meal there was no lack of conviviality; so that when Bench and Bar returned to their duties they were in no mood for protracted toil. In Lord Brampton's own words. "Judges and counsel were exhilarated and business was proportionately accelerated." In confirmation of this he notes that these "af terdinuer" trials did not occupy, on an average, more than four minutes apiece, and, in illustration, cites an actual case, the paltry nature of which, contrasted with the enori mity of the punishment involved, throws a lurid light on the inhumanity of the times. The ease was that of a pickpocket, in which the prisoner had, inconsiderately, pleaded "Not guilty," and therefore had a right to be heard. We may quote Lord Brampton's account, beginning ; with the examination of the witness for the prosecution by the prosecuting counsel. " 'I think yon -were walking up Ludgate Hill on Thursday, the 25th, about 2.30 in the afternoon, and suddenly felt a tug at your pocket and missed your handkerchief, which the constable now produces?' " 'Yes, sir. , "'I snppose you have nothing to ask him?" says the judge. 'Next witness." "Constable stands up. " 'Were you following the prosecutor on the occasion when he was robbed on Ludgate Hill, and did you see the prisoner put his hand into the prosecutor's pocket and take this handkerchief out of it?' " 'Tes, sir.' "Judge (to prisoner): 'Nothing to say, I suppose?' Then to the jury: 'Gentlemen, I suppose you have no doubt? I have none.' "Jury: 'Guilty, my lord." "Judge fro prisoner): 'Jones, we have met before; we shall not meet again for some j time. Seven years' transportation. Next case.' "Time: Two minutes flfty-three seconds. As this seems to be a 'record,' it is only fair to add that the judge's name was Muir-1 house." I