GREAT CROSS-EXAMINER.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 15 April 1908, Page 1

GREAT CROSS-EXAMINER.

"Lawson Walton," as he will always be remembered among hia colleagues at the Bar, writes a correspondent from the Temple, possessed two qualities which were his success as an advocate. He was a grp.it cross-examiner, and he had a wonderful knack of getting alongside juries. With regard to his strength in cross-examination no loss an authority than the late Mr Justice Wright considered him to be one of the last genuine exponents of the art left in the English courts. He asked the most deadly questions in the most insinuating, almost seductive, manner. The clean, square-cut face, the kindly hazel eyes, the melodious voice, all conspired to win the confidence of witnesses no less than of juries. Those who knew Mr Lawson Walton in the nineties, before persistent 11-health had laid its hand upon him, know him at his boat. Those were lavs before Mr Rufus Isaacs had ns-on in the firmament of legal conitell.utions, before Sir Edward Carson md left Ireland. Mr Duke was still i junior, so was Mr Montague Lush. Sir Henry James, Sir Charles Russell. r Kichard Webster, were ending licir brillinnt forsenic careers; inli'id, with the exception of Sir Edvr.rd Unrke, the young Mr Lawson Walton had no serious rival. Yet, is ho of ton told the presapt writer,' much drudgery at quarter sessions and assizes. Mr Rufus Isaacs was his pupil, and, as he said once, the inly man at the Bar in his knowledge. ■vho had come to eminence without^ 'he preliminary round of ill-paid and ;irocarious. circuit work. ' Born in Ceylon in 1852, Sir John Lawson Walton was the son of the Row John Walton, a missionary, afterwards president of the Wesleyan Conference. He was educated at the Merchant Tailors' School, Groat Croeby, and matriculated at London University in 1872. Joining the Inner Temple in 1874, he was bracketed first prizeman in 1876, and called to the Bar in 187. His name will be associated with many interesting cases. In 1896 he led for tho plaintiff im the famous breach of promise case, which failed, against Lord Sudley, the eldest son of the Earl of Arran. In 1897 he defended Lady Lena Scott in tho action which Lord Russell brought against her, and led for Lady Cowley in her divorce case. In 1897 he defended Lord William Nevill against the charge of forgery, and led for Mr (now Sir) W. S. Gilbert in the action against the "Era," when the jury disagreed. In two cases he secured record damages for his clients. In 1895 he conducted the action brought by Mrs Arthus Kitson against Dr. Playfair, in which £12,000 damages was awarded, the largest amount ever given for defamation. In 1903 he appeared for Mr Constantindi, who in his action for divorce was awarded £25,000 tho largest damages over given in divorco. His speech to tho jury lasted but a quarter of an hour. Early in his career Sir John Lawson Walton showed an interest in Liberal politics, being one of the original members of the "Eighty Club." In 1892 he was the accepted candidate for Battersea. but withdrew in favour of Mr John Burns. Opposing Mr Gerald Balfour in Central Leeds he was defeated, but two months later, on Lord Playfair boing made a Peer, won South Leeds. To tho last he was a staunch Imperialist. i A brother is a member of tho Cape Ministry, and another a resident magistrate in the Transvaal. Hia sister married Sir Bichard Solomon and his niece Sir Percy. Girouard.