JUDGE HIDES THE MAN

Southland Times, Issue 22770, 21 December 1935, Page 13

JUDGE HIDES THE MAN

Stanley Jackson’s portrait of Mr Justice Avory is cold, due ir; large measure to the author’s inability to separate Avory from the Bench. The picture sees him only in the Court and so the man is hidden by his wig and gown. Taciturn and reserved, Avory, “perhaps more than any other figure ir; English legal history, represented the lay conception of the perfect legal machine, just, impartial and a little inhuman.” Yet he had a fine sense of chivalry and was as scrupulously fair as he was uncompromisingly severe When he was raised to the Bench, Only one section or the community viewed Horace Avory's appointment with dismay. An Old Bailey practitioner, with no flair for aspirates, summarized the view of the underworld when he said, "Grace Havory was a ’ard and habitrary advocate, and 'e'll make a good ’anging Judge!" Avory’s experience as prosecuting counsel had given him an almost uncanny penetration into the criminal mind. It was not long before it was whispered that Mr Justice Avory is the best Judge to have if you are innocent and the very worst if you are guilty. The author gives lengthy accounts of cases in which Avory was concerned, such as those of Jabez Balfour, Whittaker Wright, Adolf Beck, the late Col. Lynch, Roger Casement, Vaquier, Mahon and Hatry—all rather well-worn ground and, while they are good for record, they do not help us to find the man who, of necessity, must be behind both council and judge. “Mr Justice Avory” by Stanley Jackson (Messrs Gollancz, Ltd., London. —