WIT ON THE BENCH.

Mataura Ensign, 23 July 1914, Page 5

WIT ON THE BENCH.

In "My Varied Life" Mr P. C. Philips tells some, gjood stories, some of them. relating incidents in assize. courtu. Mr Baron Martin, at fcho Guildford Assizes, was trying a man for murder, and lie summed up to the jury dead against the prironer. The jury, however, took a merciful view of tlm case, and. returned a verdict of manslaughter. Baron Martin was always very brief in hiii sentences, awl never attempted to harrow a prisoner's feelings. '"Prisoner at -the bar," s.ii-'l the. old Scotsman, "you're tlio luckiest man I iver came across. Tak' penal servitude for life." Another story relates to M«u!e when presiding at tlio same assizes. During the progress of one case the counsel for the Crown put :i little girl, who was live or six years old, into the witnessbox. Counsel for the defence objected, to the child being sivorn, saying that it was impossible she could understand tho nature of an oath. "There may be something in what you say/' remarked Maule. "Come up, my dear, and sit by me." The child was lifted up to the bench. "Now, my child, you are going to be asked some ouestions." "Yes, uir." "Now, snpi'twjng you were a naughty little girl juVT told stories, do you'know where, you would go to?" "No, sir," answered Ihe child. "Neither do L" said Maule. "An excellent answer. Swear the witness."