CONTEMPT OF COURT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 4541, 3 December 1889, Page 3

CONTEMPT OF COURT.

It) giving judgment last evening in the cise Crawford v. GUI, Mr Stratford took occasion to remark on the lack of business capacity shown by the two persona interested in the Pukenrl Butchery Company. Ho considered the plaintiff should not have brought the case into Court until he had better grounds for his action. He would give plaintiff the option of a non-suit, otherwise judgment would be entfrid up for tho defendant. Mr Crawford : I will take a non-suit, in order that I may take the case to a higher Court where I can have justica. His Worship : I will have you arrested for contempt of Coqrt. Mr Crawford : Your Worship can do as you please. You have gone out of your way to express the opinion that I have no business capacity, which is damaging to me. His Worship : Martin ? Mr Eawson (appealing to the Clerk), please call the baiiiff. Mr Martin was speedily in attendance, and instructed by his Worship to arrest the offender according to the prescribed rules a slight tap on the shoulder which, translated, may mean, " Come along, youug fellow !" Mr Crawford, however, did not see fit to comply with the bailiff's bidding, but proceeded to collect his papers which were lying about the table. Finding that his prisoner did not show a disposition to do bis bidding, Mr Martin supplemented his hotieyed words by a little force, which Mr Crawford resented by asking, "Am I to be hu3tled out of Court in this fashion, your Worhlp V' Hiß Worship wa=i at this time engaged noting in white and black Mr Crawford's first remarks, which, having completed, be read over to Mr Crawford, tho bailiff having stayed forcible ejectment for the time being. At this stage the gaoler put in an appearance and matters looked Beriouß. In answer to his Worship's queery as to whether or not he desired to make any explanation as to his oonduct— Mr Crawford, after a considerable pause, admitted having spoken in haste and illadvisedly, and requested leave from his Worship to retract his words. His Worship said he accepted the apology, but, in doing, ao, he gave Mr Crawford to understand that he would uphold the dignity of the Court. He wished him to understand that, in referring to his lack of business capacity, he implied the butchery business and not his professional calling, and concluded by saying, " You are discharged."