An Irregular Practice.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume IX, Issue 1200, 28 February 1902, Page 2

An Irregular Practice.

Mr James, S.M., Speaks Plainly.

During the bearing of the sheep ear-marking case on Tuesday, Mr James, S.M., asked to see the sub pama which had been issued for one of the witnesses for the defence. ; binding that the document bad been irregularly issued and sirvcd His Worship, with considerable warmth, proceeded to reprimand Mr Tcsswill for having issued a subpoena in such an irregular manner. He said such "conduct was most represensible. Not only was such a course highly improper, but to take a subpoena to a Justice of the Peace for signature, without first getting the Court sump affixed, rendered such Justice liable to a penalty of £2O for each subpoena so issued, aud further, tho proceeding seemed to suggest an attempt to defraud the revenue. Mr Tosswill said he was not to blame for be was absent from his office through illness when his clerk issued the subpiena. His Worship said there was no excuse for such conduct. It was not as if the Clerk of the Court wts difficult to find. The Court office was open and there were regular hours well known to Mr Tosswill. Mr Tosswill said that other solicitors did the same thing. His Worship replied that even if they did, two wrongs did not make one right, and he would mark lus disapproval of sucli a practice by refusing the expenses of witnesses who were subpoenaed in this manner.