COURTIS LONG SITTING.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 907, 29 August 1910, Page 4

COURTIS LONG SITTING.

INTO SUNDAY MORNING.' A spectacle well calculated to make raauy gasp was provided by the sitting of the Supreme Court into the "wee sma' 'oors" of Sunday morning, in what proved to be a futile attempt to sever the bonds which united a husband, and wife. Tho case which 'was responsible for this singular departure from the beaten path of judicial propriety had occupied tho attention of Mr. Justice Chapman and a jury of twelve during a period of three days, in camera, and with a heavy list of cases unheard ahead, tho Court had little option but to sacrifice its own comfort.and convenience to the public interest.- Accordingly, it had sat—with tho exception of two short intervals for meals —from 0 o'clock on Saturday morning. It was almost twelve hours, later when the jury retired. At five minutes before miduiglit the Judge sent for them, to learn that no agreement had been arrived at, nor was there a reasonable prospect of an agreement, or even of a threefourths majority verdict. His Honour sent them back again for a further consultation, and on being informed at twenty minutes past twelve that there was still no hope of a decision being reached, discharged the jury, and ordered a fresh trial, on a date to be arranged next Wednesday.