“LEARNED FRIENDS”

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 June 1930, Page 2

“LEARNED FRIENDS”

COUNSEL AT LOGGERHEADS. There were several bouts of verbal sparring between counsel engaged in a civil case heard at the Supreme Court, Greymouth, to-day, and His Honoi- Mr Justice Adams was called upon to act as referee. Difficulty in understanding the evidence given by the plaintiff, an Italian, caused the first interchange. Mi - C. E. Thomas (for cFefendaixt) objected to what he described as leading questions put to plaintiff by the latter’s counsel, Mr P. J. O’Regan, and His Honoi- upheld the objection.

Mr O’Regan explained that he had difficulty in securing replies from the witness, owing to his imperfect knowledge of English, and was making further remarks when His Honor sharply intervened, stating that he did not intend to argue the point. The rules of evidence were framed in the interests of Justice, and must be observed. Counsel could always find means of overcoming a. difficulty such as that experienced, he said. The rules were universal, and must be observed in that Court. “You know the rules as well as I do,” concluded His Honor.

“Yes, sir,” said Mr O’Regan, “I believe I do.” The second round commenced when Mr Thomas protested against “asides” by Mr O’Regan, which could be heard by the jury, during his (Mi- Thomas's) examination of a witness.

Air O’Regan declared that the aspersion was “utterly devoid of truth,” and said that he was going to defend himself. “During the time I was examining,” he said, -.“I was continually hearing sotto voce remarks from my friend!” His Honoi- ruled that counsel should be allowed to conduct his examination without interruption.