WHO’S WHO

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXX, Issue 12263, 26 May 1934, Page 10

WHO’S WHO

IN THE UAYLY CASE. INTERESTING FEN SKETCHES. Not the least interesting aspect flt tho trial of William Alfred Bayly, who stands in the dock at. the Supreme Court in Auckland charged with double murder, ip the assemblago of people eminent in the law, detection of crime and in medicine. Personal sketches of n number « them are given with the object ° conveying some idea of who is v. ‘o in the case, and what manner ot men are they who are charged witin I , r • • -justico lS tho duly ol yr ir J raven with an even hand. The presiding judge. Sir Alexander Herd man, or, ns ho is officially designated when on the bench, A r. Justice 1 lord man, I’n.s directed _the jury at many import-lit criminal trials during a score oi years. Ho asks few questions in court, but watches closely in an almost motionless ajttiiurlo, his. eyes (roving from counsel to witness, and from jury to prisoner.

A CENTAL PROSECUTOR

Air. V. R. Meredith, who i s loadlt,rr fo r tho Crown, has conducted aU the major criminal prosecutions ni Auckland for many years. He is a man of genial personality, and one vlio has been rarely known to lose patience even when a- witness proves cither dull or deliberately uncomprehending. He seldom raises his voice above conversational tone, —nd a characteristic posture j s his habit of standing with one foot on a. chair and leaning forward to emphasise a point with hi s pine-noz. His opponents at the bar have frequently 71014 tributes to his scrupulous fairness. Mr. Meredith is as well-known in sport as in tho law. He bulks large in Rugby football circles. Ho was a- great player in his younger days, and has had a share in- selecting All Black touring sides—indeed, ho is still on tho New Zealand Selection Committee —and ha-c reappeared as sole Auckland selector. He know* hi s footballers as surely as ho does his law.

Afr. Meredith bar- a very young and able barrister associated with him. He is Afr. F. McCarthy. L.L.AI who is in Afr. Aferedith’s office. Not vet 30. he has had a- vorv good career at Auckland University College. A keen debate*’. he is known for his waggish wit. He is a good cricketer and is found in season ‘behind the sticks” for Eden Club. An eccentricity is his insistence on wearing black socks for tlie game. In Rugbv football, t4o. he is widely known and wears the jersey of Grammar Old Bovs.

PF.NETR AT ING CROSS-EX AMINER. On the oilier side of the table are Air. E. H. Northeroft and Air. L. i*. Leary, who are defending Bavly.

Afr. Northeroft has the reputation of being a penetrating cross-examin-er and is a man who has a head for tho minutest detail. He seeks to convince by cold logic anj inct rather than to dazzle bv oratory, and has appeared fin many important trials, both civil and criminal. He is an old bov of AA ellington College. His recreations arc golf and aquatics. his fine first-clas s keel yacht Hex being as much a part of the AVnitomata Harbour as the water on which she cruises. Afr. NoTtliercft has served for rears a flag-officer o r the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squatlro.r j s He sold aired i!n the Great AVar ns a colonel in the N.Z.F.A. and was decorated with the D.S.O.

Mr. Leary, junior counsel tor the defence, is recognised by his fellow practitioners as an able barrister with a brilliant, turn of wit. He studied law at- Victoria. College, Wellington, and kept to his books with such diligence that his eyesight almost failed and he had to write some of his final papers with iiis eyes shut, a method which he recommends as admirable exercise in brevity. Mr. Learv u well-known to the public as the author of two very fine musical plays. “Tutankhamen” and the "Abbess of Whitby.” which are among the best productions the Auckland Amateur Operatic Society has staged. Air Leary was an officer in the Royal Field Artillery in the war and won the Military Cross. His hobbies are tennis, gardening and occasional itevary work.

SOLDIER-DETECTIVE WITH WONDERFUL MEMORY.

A witness who will fign r c prominently in the case for the prosecution is Detective T. Yv\ Allsopp. He it was who, with Detective T. Sneddon, undertook the investigations at Unaware from the first, and carried the inquiiy through to the point where tho police considered they had a 'pass against Bavly in 'respect 01 both Lakeys. Detective Allsopp, is an Englishman, was a sergeant, in tho Gold-stream Guards during the war. lie saved the life of an officer in the. 1916 attack on Gouzeaucourt, and a treasured possession is a handsome inscribed cigarette case, given him by the officer. The detective. has a wonderful memory < and in the Lower Court hearing lie stood seven hours in the witness-box, and at uo time referred to bis notebook to recall dates or details of conversations. Mr. Allsopp and Mr. Sneddon wore really the formulntors ot the burning theory.

DOUR LITTLE SCOTSMAN. Notable among the export witnesses arc Dr. W. Gilmour, pathologist at the Auckland Hospital, and Dr. P. P. Lynch., who bolds a sinii- t lar appointment in Wellington. Dr. Gilmour is a dour little Scotsman who lias given evidence in many criminal trials. Ho is cold and deliberate, entirely matter-of-fact, arid speaks broad Scots. On th e other hand Dr. Lynch infuses som 0 colour into his testimony, qnd i s almost, whimsical,

And what of the central figure— Rayly ? He looks just, his 28 years* and i» slight of build, dark, and sal-, low cnrnplnxioncd. In the. Atagistrate’s Court he spent a good deal or tho 10 days’ hearing in rocking slow, lv back and forth in his chair. Now and then lie would rest his head against, the side of tho dock, and, to all intents and purposes, would doset off for several minutes at a time.