LAW STUDENTS LEARN TO CROSS-EXAMINE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17836, 3 May 1926, Page 4

LAW STUDENTS LEARN TO CROSS-EXAMINE.

INTERESTING LECTURE BY MR A. T. DONNELLY.

The Canterbury College Law Students Society benefitted by an interesting lecture on the subject of. ‘‘Crossexamination of Witnesses,” given by Mr A. T. Donnellv, Crown Prosecutor,

on Saturday night. Mr L. J. Hensley presided over a large attendance. The subject of ‘‘Cross-examination.” said the lecturer, was a comprehensive one and one dealing mainly with advocacy. There was only one branch of advocacy and this had been laid down first by Greek scholars and later byRoman jurists and writers. chief among whom was Cicero. The art of advocacy was persuasion by the spoken word. From Greek times the three main essentials had been; (1* To conciliate; (2) to convince; and (3) to persuade. An advocate had first to conciliate the tribunal. If the tribunal was hostile to him he could not get on with his case. Next he had to convince the tribunal that he was right. But, although the tribunal might be morally persuaded, it might not convict. An advocate’s bearing and subsequent conduct from the time he entered the Court until the time when the verdict had been returned was a matter of great importance to the case, whether it be before a Magistrate, a Judge, or a Court ol’ Appeal.

Continual interjection by a solicitor was always dangerous to his case, said Mr Donnelly', and he must impress on the Court his own side of the case. Too much smartness by' a lawyer did not create a good impression and tended to do him harm. Cross-examination was merely part of the presentation of the case. The first thing to do was to distinguish what class of witness one had to deal with. There were many different types of witnesses, liars, imaginative ones, truthful ones, unwilling ones, over voluble ones, etc. A common type of witness was one who over-emphasised essential facts. A bad sign in a counsel was the writing of voluminous notes of evidence. A counsel should lead a witness mildly to a certain point and not start oft bullying him into a state of hostility. A counsel should also have a definite object in view before crossexamining a witness. In criminal cases it was generally unwise to let a Crown witness go without cross-examination, even if such examining could not help Mr Donnelly was thanked for his address. Fell from Second Storey Windpw while Walking in Sleep. Early on Sunday morning a middleaged man, John Dunn, of Stillwater, fell from the second storey window of Revington’s Hotel, Greymouth, where he war. staying for the week-end. He was removed to the hospital, but his injuries are not yet disclosed. It is believed that Dunn was walking in his sleep when he fell. Canons Galwey and Mutter to Act as Chaplains. ‘‘l am thankful to say that the dean has consented to act as commissary’ for me," states Bishop West-Watson in the “Church News.” “He and Canon Wilford allow me to reappoint them examining chaplains, and Canons Gelwcy and Mutter have kindly' agreed to act as chaplains. I should like to add a word of real gratitude to the archdeacons for their help and advice at every turn. No Bishop could have found more generous help and support m corning to a new diocese.” *.* j; 55 Four Fingers Broken. On Saturday an accident, by which a young man. Con Brosnahan, had four fingers of his right hand broken, one in three places, and the hand generally badly’ crushed, occurred in the Ashburton "Guardian" office, where Brosnahan is an apprentice. He was working a machine, when his hand was caught. He was admitted to the County Hospital, where an operation was performed in the afternoon. Further Erosion. Further erosion is reported at Coal Creek Flat as a result of the heavyrain bringing down a "fresh” in the Grey River. When the damage which is being done to good land was brought to the notice of the Minister of Lands, (the Hon A. D. M’Leod), during his visit to Grey mo oth lie expressed the opinion that the settlers and local bodies interested should make the first move with regard to protective works. The Government then might be able to grant a subsidy. ,So far no action been tak*m as suggested by the Minister. Penal Reform Lecture.

Miss B. E. Raughan. 8.A., lectured to the W.E.A. on Penal Reform at the Trades Hall on Saturday night. There was a large attendance of members. The lecturer outlined, as examples. the lives of seven criminals, and claimed to demonstrate the uselessness of puftishment as a cure for crime. She. contended that the only really efficacious treatment of criminals was probation and individual attention. The unnecessary detention of offenders tended to produce habitual criminals, and this might be avoided by’ demonstrating to the offender the serious nature of his offence, and the manner in which he had failed in his duty to the community. At the end of her lecture Miss Baughan answered questions, and was accorded a hearty vote cf thanks. Bishop ha 3 Faith in Ccmmissarie*: at Hems. “ I want to write a few words about the two clergymen who have most kindly promised to act as commissaries fcr. me in England,” states Bishop West-Watson in the “Church News.” “Canon E. S. Woods, brother of the Bishop of Winchester, and vicar of Charles Simeon’s old church in Cambridge. is an old college friend of mine, and intensely absorbed in the life and work of the church in the world. He is also one of cur greatest studentleaders in England, and chairman of the ‘Life and Liberty’ movement the movement which was so largely responsible for the great emancipation of the English Church through her new constitution. My other commissary is the Rev F. W. Head, an old college friend of Emmanuel, Cambridge, and fcr years dean of the college. lie was chaplain with the Guards during the war, and has since been made chaplain to the King. lie has a large parish in Greenwich. Tt is extraordinarily kind of two such men to help us, and we may feel absolute confidence in their judgment.”