Judges Take It Back

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 235, 5 October 1936, Page 5

Judges Take It Back

wixmucAWJN Two English judges recently withdrew criticisms they had previously made—and one even criticised himself for making the criticisms. The judge who criticised himself, reversed his decision of the previous day and apologised was Sir Herbert Wilberforce, deputy chairman of London Sessions. He ruled that his <■ order that £5 should be paid by the prosecution towards the cost of the defence of an acquitted motor driver was not one which should be enforced. “I Ought to say, with some regret,” he said, ‘‘that some observations fell from yesterday which ought not to have done. ‘‘They were made under the influence of temporary emotion of which no one occupying the position I do ought to be guilty.” The acquitted man had been committed for trial by Mr E. C. P. Boyd, Marlborough street magistrate. The jury stopped the case. When application for costs was made Sir Herbert had said: ‘‘l think this is a case where the public, not the police, should pay the costs of the case being tried here, because it seems to me, as far as I can judge, quite unnecessary. ‘‘lf a police court cannot try a case of theft involving half a crown it is time poliio courts should be abolished. I cannot order the magistrate to pay the costs, but I don’t think defendant should do so.” The other judge was Mr Justice Greaves-Lord, who the other day said regarding a boy witness: ‘‘What on earth are the L.C.C. doing if a boy of eleven, not a stupid boy, cannot do multiplication ” Yesterday counsel informed the judge that the L.C.C. had made inquiries and found that tho boy had never been to an L.C.C. school, but had been attending a lion-provided school under tho jurisdiction of a neighbouring authority. Mr Justice Greaves-Lord: Tho L.C.C. are completely absolves from blame and the good impression of them I havo had for a great many years remains unimpaired.