A Great Judge's Leave-taking

Evening Star, Issue 8528, 29 May 1891, Page 4

A Great Judge's Leave-taking

A PATHETIC SCENE. [From the *PKt«.Vs' London - CorresponEEST.] The i\e3B have forced Mr Justice Stephen to retire, and last week he took hia leave of the Bench in a dignified and pathetic manner. In the full Conrt with all Queen's Council and Benchers presenu he and his brother judges entered, all robed in ermine save Sir James himself. Es had worn his robea for the last time, and came ia plainly dressed in black. He looked pels and troubled and walked with a hesitating step to the seat which the Lord Chief signed to hint Jo take. There he sat down, with his hands folded and hia fingers nervously working whilst the Attorney General made, on behalf of the Bar, one of those elegant, graoeful speeches which on these occasions Sir .Richard Webster makes eo well. Sir Richard spoke of trie brilliant career of the great lawyer, whom he said he honored and respected the more since, as soon as there was any question raised of his phyaieal capacity to perform his duties, he resolved no longer to hold office. When Sir Richard's well-spoken words were ended, the Lord Chief Justice and Lord Justice Bowen, who occupied the seats on either side of Sir James, rose from their seats and respectfully stood whilst Sir James, still sitting, made his speech of farewell. He woulcf have risen also. He made a movement as if to do so, but the Lord Chief whispered something to him, and he remained seated to speak his apologia. It was a painful speech to listen to—painful because of the pain with which ic was spoken, and painful becasse it presented the spectacle of a good and strong man struggling against infirmity. He spoke with difficulty; his voice was clouded as if with tears, especially when he dwelt on his regard for the dignity and the reputation of the office it had buen his ambition and his pride to fill, and his speech was broken by painful pauses where ha hesitated every now and again to choose between two forms of expression. In all he said there w&a no word that did not tell of the goodness and strength of the man and the judge. His speech was in a touching minor key. _ He spoke as one conscious of bard and painful self-sacrifice in the step he felt called upon to take. " I have come here for the purpose ot saying good-bye," he said, "and I have ju«t ene word to say of the causes that have led to my retirement. I certainly very little expected to have to take such a step, except as one looked forward to «t the conclusion of my life. " He fcold how be had been made acquainted with the supposition that he was no longer physically capable .of discharging his duties, how he had caused every inquiry to be made, and rejoiced that no single instance was brought to his notice of any failure of justice; how he had consulted physicians of the highest eminence, who coald detect nothing wrong, but who said at the same time that in the interest of his own health it would be well for him to rest; how upon this he had communicated with the Lord Chancellor, and obtained permission to retire. There was a sense of hardship and injustice £u~all this, but it was without any tonch of petulance, and only added to the quiet dignity of the position which he now went on to define. *' I should have thought it unbecoming," he said proudly, "in*a person filling such an office as mine, to hold" on so as to leave any doubt as to my capacity to discharge my duties. But I will make this simple remark as to my own feelings. Aa far as I m conscious of my own condition of mind and body I do not think Ktirement would be necessary. These are the grounds on which I stand before you." Then he paused a moment, and remembering that he was not standing, corrected himself, Baying 'Bit before you." " Then he went on to Bpeak in the "presence'of faces bo familiar and dear to me," and ot his kindly feelings for all, his hope that hje 1 should continue to be their intimate friend. He did not know of any single membe*«fc*fae.pr<ifesMon of whom he had any bute friendly ieelings, though, he added, "one never knows who U ones enemy, and who one's friend." At the close his emotion almost overcame him. " J don t mean to make a tragedy of this occasion, he struggled to say, and then ended by exclaiming with emotion he was jnow unable

to conceal "Cod bless you all, everyoue V With that he finished, and rose slowly and with effort from his Beat, and stood looking i.jiutd like one in a dream. Thou tho Lord Chief Justice seeing his distress, went up to him and shook him sympathetically by the hand. Then he took a last look round the crowded court, in whioh everyone was standing, turned round, and walked slowly out with the Chief Justice, the others following. ____________