LEGAL POOH BAH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 205, 31 August 1933, Page 21

LEGAL POOH BAH.

VICTORIAN OFFICIAL MAN v WHO WRITES TO HIMSELF. Mr. J. 8.. Richards, the Pooh Bah of the Melbourne law courts, will fade into a John Citizen shortly. After 45 years in the public service, he will retire from the positions of Prothonotary of the Supreme Court, Sheriff, Registrar of the Supreme Court in its Admiralty Jurisdiction, Marshal of the Supreme Court in its Admiralty Jurisdiction, and Deputy-Marshal of the High Court of Australia. Socially, it can be said that Mr. Richards has carried his lamp to the highest pinnacle of success. At public functions the law gives him precedence over all except the Lieutenant-Governor. There was a time when the Sheriff took precedence 'over oven a LieutenantGovernor, and sat next to the King. But, recognising the dignity of the latter office, legislators amended the law. Mr. Richards was appointed Prothonotary on December 15, 1928. As an economy move, the Government combined the positions of Prothonotary and Sheriff.- So Mr. Richards undertook a Gilbertian role. As Prothonotary, he v.'ould give a judgment in favour of fi litigant for f 1000 damages. _ Then he would write a letter to himself as Sheriff, commanding himself to execute

the judgment, and, if he failed to obtain tie money, it was his duty to administer himself a stern rebuke. The duties of the Sheriff arc exceedingly comprehensive. At murder trials, he is supposed to sit beside the presiding judge. The Chief Justice used to preside at such trials with the Sheriff at his side, but latterly, because of pressure of work, this convention has been overlooked. In England a bowl of roses is placed near the Sheriff at a murder trial, but this part of the ritual has never been observed in Victoria. The Sheriff in Victoria, as in England, must be present when the jury gives its verdict ill a capital case. The judge formally gives the body of a convictcd person to the Sheriff, who is responsible for the execution arrangements.