JUDGE AND SOLICITOR.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10768, 14 May 1913, Page 5

JUDGE AND SOLICITOR.

A BREEZE IN THE SUPREME COURT. His Honor Mr Justice Denniston took strong exception at the Supreme Court yesterday to remarks made by Mr M. Donnelly in his address to the jury, and for a few moments the atmosphere of the Court was changed from ite normal dignified rigidity into a state of strong though subdued heat. In addressing the jury on behalf of a man charged with theft, Mr Donnelly made certain remarks concerning tho evidence given ,J by two of the witnesses, and his Honor, interrupting the remarks of counsel, informed him that he was imputing perjury to the witnesses. Mr Donnelly, continuing, was again pulled up a little later, and, after a short argument with his Honor, continued his address, and occupied the remainder of it in an extremely heated explanation of his attitude, and a very emphatic protest against being interrupted in his remarks to the jury. • After Mr Donnelly had finished, his Honor referred at soma length to the speech, which he characterised as "outrageous and indecent." In all his years of connection with the law, he said, he had never heard such a tone adopted by a solicitor in reference to remarks of a Judge, and he trusted that there would be no recurrence of such an episode.