A STARVING BARRISTER.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4228, 8 October 1874, Page 3

A STARVING BARRISTER.

Mr. Weightman, a barrister, Who was convicted at the Central Criminal Court, London, and sentenced by Mr. Commissioner Kerr to six months' hard labor for purloining books from the Inner Temple library some time ago, has, since his liberation from confinement, been called upon by his benchers to answer for his conduct, and has been disbared after an investigation lasting over three days. During the inquiry it transpired that on his being released from prison a cheque, representing public subscriptions amounting to £6OO, was handed over to him. His benchers, in declaring .that he had forfeited his right to be retained on the roll of members, remarked that it was a matter of great pain to them to have to do what duty had rendered imperative, but while they regretted the circumstances compelling them to the decision at which they had arrived, yet they could not, after the commission of a crime so derogatory to the honor of the profession, relax then- severity, but must do that which would protect and uphold the dignity, of the bar. After the sentence of disbarment- had been passed upon him"he gave notice of appeal to the judges, but failed to appear at the appointed day ; and, every iuquiry, no one has since heard of him." It was rumored that of the proceeds derived from the sale of one book which he had taken he actually applied a portion to the sustenance of a brother barrister (since dead), who, like himself, was at the time of the commission of the offence, starving and almost dying. The Times says that .since the disclosure of the privations endured by Mr. Weightman a fund has been established by all the inns of court to alleviate the wants of tha poorer members of the bar, and the amount of subscriptions in hand or contributed is very large, the fund being continually added to, while the recipients of the boon, happily, are comparatively few.