AN AUCKLAND LIBEL CASE.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11581, 12 May 1903, Page 2

AN AUCKLAND LIBEL CASE.

SCENE IN COURT. (PRXB9 ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) AUCKLAND, May 11. Bichardeon, charged with 'having pab* lished a defamatory libel, created a sceee in the Supreme Court this morning. He stated that two constables had sent Mr Justice Conolly a copy of the accused's paper containing comment on his Honour's decision in the Bews divorce case, which, would prejudice his Honour in trying the present case if he were human. Mr Justice Conolly eaid he had not aeen the article referred to, and no on« had attempted to bias him. Accused: "I want an absolutely unbiased triai" . His Honour: "Do you say you will not get an unbiassed trial at my hands?" Accused: "I want to be quite cure." His Honour: "How?" Accwed : "By having a Judge on the I '. —

Bench whom I have not criticised. I think I will be aMe to show you have ehown scan* "bias." Accused said that Mr Justice Coriolly in the dhairge- to the Grand Jury commented that thenewepapere of the colony had escaped tihe laW of libeL . Mr Justice Conoily: "I said the newepapers were ac a rule coodnetedby discreet editors and proprietors, and tlhat they did not publish labele." Accueed: "The innuendo was the* mane was a newspaper that Lad brought Heel! Tinder tiie law." ' it Hie Honour: "I can take notice of that. Accueed eaid he visited Mr Justice Conolly'e residence to see his coachman on political matters. One of hi* (Mr Justice Conolly's) daughter* /■ Mr Justice Conolly, warmly: I wont have my daughter's name mentioned in this Court. Accused eaid he would mention her name in this Court. Hiß Honour, more warmly: ''You shall not do so, and I shall not permit it. Thin is most disgraceful." Accused persisted, whereupon Mr Justice Conolly said he would have the accused taken "below and locked up if he insulted his .-daughter. Accused said he would etate that lie dropped the referenoe to the Judge* daughter, but "persisted in reading from a newspaper, despite hia Honour's protest tihat it was irregular. Hie Honour ordered the police to lock the accueed in the cells until he wae in a better frame of mind. The police thereupon seized the accused at his Honour* order, and took a paper from the accused. The aocuied asked: "Do you caH tliin " justice?" Richardson then said he would go below till the day he died bo long a* he gob a fair trial. Hβ twitted the Judge with having the decision in Bewe's case reversed. ; ' . _ His Honour eaid he had made a mirtakf in a point of law. 'Accused said Bewa's case showed hia Honour was a man of etrong peculiarities, Why did 'hie Honour wire to hear the . case. Mr Justice Conolly i Because it i> my duty. The accused's plea was then taken, and the Crown Prosecutor was ready to reply but the accused asked for a remand tc further prepare his argument, and was re. , manded accordingly.