SENSATION IN COURT

Feilding Star, Volume 7, Issue 2243, 26 June 1929, Page 7

SENSATION IN COURT

.BOGUS LAWYER UNMASKED

ARREST ORDERED BY JUDGE

P&fifhg 'as ia successful crimiinal lawyer, a notorious crminal named. Joseph. Eeichtenstcn inns lor six months completely hoodwinked the Vie/uneso courts oi justice. Ho has attended, the liar mess made irieuds ■with eminent counsel, and successfully defended prisoners on trial on various offences.

The exposure, which occurred while Lichtenstein was defending an elderly jeweller accused of receiving stolen /goods, caused’ a widespread sensation. Ho was about to recall one of the witnesses in the ease when two detectives entered tie Court and whispered something to the judge.

The next moment the judge rose from his chair and sa;d. : ‘I am sorry to have to interrupt the trial, but it lias como to my knowledge that tl:|o counsel for the defence is an imposter, never been admitted to the bar, and is befog sought by tho police. I therefor© order his arrest.” "When lie had been handcuffed, Lichtenstein bowed ceremoniously to the judge and asked lor permission to address the court. “I very much regret- tlbli-t I have to leave my client at this most critical juncture of the trial,” he said.- “He certainly will’ nob he able to- tlind another counsel aa able and skilled as myself. I ;un (one who really knows criminal law, and I am being forced into retirement.”

Lichtenstein afterwards confessed that he assumed the role of a bariris ter in order to evade the police), when cm the look-out lor him. He has had am amazing career. During tho war he introduced himself to tho ,War Department as Prince Lichtenstein, and secured a big order for military uniforms. Subsequently ho was sentenced to. four months’ imprisonment for assuming alias for fraudulent purposes. Later he was accused of selling fake stocks, but was acquitted. For selling, two hotels which were not his to a wealthy German, Leiciiteustein got it. sentence of two years. After, eight months, however, he was pardoned. It was a judge who had once sentenced him who suspected that tl-y dashing lawyer was not all ho seemed. Though hq did not rev cognise h/ini, lie liud a suspicion that

something was wrong. He, therefore, informed the police, who caroled out inquiries which resulted in Lichtenstein’s arrest is the courtroom.