ANOTHER LEGAL SQUABBLE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4792, 8 September 1883, Page 3

ANOTHER LEGAL SQUABBLE.

[SFBOIAIi TO THB " STAB."] DUNEDIN, Sbpt. 8. A young man Thomas Oarrett, who waa convicted of drunkenness yesterday, made a counter oharge of assault and drunkenness againßt the arresting constable. Ibe Benoh after investigation, found the oharge against the polioe disproved. On hearing this deoision the prisoner threatened to defend himself the next time he was interfered witb. At the Besident Magistrate's Court yesterday, a discreditable scene ooourred. Mr Denniston oharged Mr M'Donald with making oharaoterißtio misstatements ; and on Mr M'Donald asserting that it was oharaoteristio of Mr Denniston to deny statements, Mr Denniston Baid: "When a person of that sort— a person olaiming to rank as a gentle* man, who has shown himself to be what most of us believe him to bo— says that a oertain statement is correct, and that it is character* | istio of me to deny suoh statements, it ii juet one of, those pieces of insolence whioh — " Mr M'Donald : " I say that it is my learned friend who is guilty of insolence when he says that it is oharaoteristio of me to make mis-statements." Mr Denniston : " I am addressing the Benoh, and I ask protection from a pieoe of insolence whioh is only what might be expeoted from tbo person who utters it. I have carefully avoided addressing that gentleman, bnt when he gets up and tells me, that suoh a thing is oharaoteristio of me, I ask if it is a statement whioh a gentleman would make, ora statement • justified by faots" Mr M'Donald replied, I explaining the point in question in theexamiI nation of the witness, and the statement

whioh his learned friend denied. Mr Denniston:" I wish you would not oall me, your friend." Mr M'Donald : " I did not. I ask not to 'be. interrupted." Mr Denniston : ' I will interrupt so long as you insult me by calling me your friend." Mr Watt: "I think I would oomply with the request, Mr M'Donald." Mr Denniston complained that be was insulted by being called a friend byMr M'Donald, and both oounsel spoke simultaneously in a loud voice for a few moments. The Magistrate oalled upon Mr Denniston to keep order. He said the misunderstanding arose in the first plaoe from a remark or question of his own. He hoped oounsel would be able to go on with the case, lhe case then prooeeded without more than the usual amount of bickering.