A COURT INCIDENT

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18050, 16 April 1924, Page 6

A COURT INCIDENT

STRAINED RELATIONS. BENCH VERSUS COUNSEL. The cordjal relations usually existing between Bench and Bar ware rather severely strained yesterday at the Magistrate's Court, when Mr Wyvern Wilson,' the presiding Magistrate, himself hurriedly adjourned the Court, and left precipitately with Mr C. S. Thomas still demanding to he heard. Mr Thomas immediately went in search of Mr Wilson, but the latter could not be approached. At the morning session a maintenance case, in which Mr Thomas appeared for the complainant, was adjourned until the afternoon sitting. On resuming, Mr Thomas said the case had been settled by consent, and passed up the necessary papers to the Magistrate. The Magistrate: You consent to £2' a week and £2 2s costs, MrThomas?

Mr Thomas: No, Sir. The Magistrate: Then put your client jn the box. Mr Thomas: No, I will not .go on with it. The Magistrate: Then I dismiss the case. Mr Thomas: May Ibe heard? The Magistrate: * I dismiss the case, Mr Thomas. I have to be very careful with you solicitors. Mr Thomas again rose -to address the Bench. "If your Worship pleases . . . ." he commenced. The Magistrate: Mr Thomas, I dismiss the case. Will you sit down? Mr Thomas: If your Worship The Magistrate:' Pleas>e sit down, Mr Thomas. Mr Thomas,sat down!

Mr. Wilson, in outlining the cnse, said that -from the facts put before •him, it seemed to be a matter where there were negotiations for a deed of separation, and there was nothing said to lead him to the defendant'wilfully failed to maintain his wife. When the. matter came up again in the afternoon, the parties agreed to a separation on term's of a consent. The only terms that could -he - embodied in a separation were the payment of £2 a week arid costs. It was now sought to .introduce that'complainant should have the use-of the furniture, which could not be introduced into a maintenance order. "On my intimating that this could not be done,|' 'continued Mr Wilson, "counsel said he was not going on with it. 'I dismiss the case." . Mr Thomas rose and asked permission'to address the Court. The Magistrate said he would not listen to Mr Thomas,; but counsel in-, sisted. Mr Wilson, ns he hurriedly departed through the side door: "The Court is adjourned." : , .•.'...-..'■•. iAs the Magistrate, retired Mr. Thomas was' still ; appealing for an opportunity to explain, but his recmests fell on'deaf ears, and the door'closed. Mr Thomas immediately ■repaired, to the Magistrate's room, but was unable to gain' admittance, and so the; incident ended.