ALLEGED FISTICUFFS IN COURT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13722, 11 April 1908, Page 2 (Supplement)

ALLEGED FISTICUFFS IN COURT.

[FROM OCR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] London, February 28. London's peaceful citizens were amazed, when the Evening News of Wednesday reached them, to learn that an unseemly spectacle had been witnessed in the Law . Courts, some King's Counsel coming to blows, the two combatants having to be parted by the solicitor-general, and order restored by the attorney-general. This is an account of what occurred : " Since blows were. exchanged in Parliament, nothing so sensational has been seen as the extraordinary spectacle this afternoon of two King's Counsel exchanging blows in the Lord Chief Justices Court. The affair occurred just before Mr. Justice A. T. Lawrence and his fellow Railway and Ca.nal Commissioners returned from lunch. During the, hearing of the application of the Great Northern and Great Central Railways before the court, the K.C.'s bench had been filled by ;a; dozen King's Counsel, representing various interests. The combatants were Mr. Vesey Knox, K.C., and Mr. Roskill, K.C. " The latter had taken his seat when Mr. Vesey Knox entered, and made as if to pass to a seat nearer the centre than that occupied by Mr. Roskill. Soma quick, sharp words were exchanged. Then suddenly, to the amazement of all in court, the two learned counsel were aiming and parrying blows. The struggle, after a few moments,, became a wrestle. There were loud and angry exclamations on both sides. The antagonists were parted by Sir Samuel Evans and Sir Robert Finlay, who succeeded in restoring v order before the entry;of the judge. During the subsequent proceedings, the two combatants sat within a yard of one another, separated by a K.C., who posted himself between." . -,; ' , „ .: ; \- ; •.' - : .:::> I simply quote the above, but may add that so far as I could discover, no other London paper next morning contained any reference to the affair, excepting only the 11. Daily ; Telegraph, which '■-.-■■ carefully . omitted ."any mention -of "blows," but merely hinted at a ; scuffle. Anyhow, there does appear ta bav&. ft "tow/i pi: jams 5»rji» ......