A Loquacious Litigant.

Thames Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 8602, 5 March 1897, Page 2

A Loquacious Litigant.

(Per Press Association.)

"Wellington, March 5. An unusual scene occurred in the Supreme Court this morning. James Carston, a printer, sued the Colonial Secretary and obtained judgment by default for £940. This was afterwards set aside on the ground that the wrong person had been sued.

Cars ton now brought a suit against the Registrar to compel him to enforce the judgment on the ground that the order setting it aside was not before the Court.

The Chief Justice aaid the proceedings were properly before the 3ourt, whereupon Carston, who appeared in person, loudly insisted that the Judge was quite wrong, and lectured him as to the proper method of procedure. Wordy warfare followed, which culminated in the plaintiff asking His Honor whether he was acting as solicitor for the defendant.

The Judge threatened to commit him for contempt, and repeated his threat later on, and finally dismissed the case with fifteen guineas costs. He then proceeded to comment on the conduct of the plaintiff, aud the waste of time and money involved, but Carston said the Judge, after closing the case, had no light to make such remarks, as the plaintiff could not reply, and fairly talked His Honor down.