JUSTICE AND POLITICS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 12376, 9 February 1911, Page 5

JUSTICE AND POLITICS.

SENSATION CREATED BY SIR ■ WILLIAM GRANTHAM. RECIPROCITY IN CRIMINALS. (Press Assn. — By Telegraph. — Copyright.) (Received February 9, 10.35 a.m.) LONDON, February 8. Mr Justice Grantham created a sensation at Liverpool Assizes by repudiating what he described as a charge of political partisanship arising out of his decision m the Yarmouth election case m 1906. Scarcely a week since had. passed, he said, without his receiving threatening and insulting letters. He , denied all partisanship, and was astonished at the accusation. Later m the day, Mr Ju-stice Grantham, m sentencing a Canadian criminal, said that the prisoner was the ,*3ort of reciprocity Canada had for England, m sending -criminals here to be punished, and m other matters seeking reciprocity with the United -States. The Manchester Guardian denounces the offensive reference to political partisanship, which colors the whole conception of Mr Justice Grantham's judicial conduct The Daily News condemns the judge's incapacity for taking a judicial view. The Chronicle says that Mr Justice Grantham is unable to realise that a judge requires self-repression. The Morning Leader says that' the natural unconscious bias of Mr Justice Grantham is a positive peril to anyone tried for his liberty or his life. The Westminster Gazette thinks that the outburst is a swan song, and is a preliminary to other action. ! Mr Asquith, the Premier, irf grave tones, commented on Judge Grantham's remarks at Liverpool, and added that the House of 'Commons was scrupulous m censuring, Or even commenting, on judges, but a reciprocal obligation was expected Sir William Grantham, judge of the King's Bench Division, is 76 years of age. He was at one time M.P. for East Surrey, and also for Croydon. He is greatly interested m his estates and the villagers, and has originated many local organisations to keep the laborer on the land. ,