HOERMLT PpLITE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1031, 9 April 1884, Page 6

HOERMLT PpLITE.

Mr, Baron. Graham was one oi the judges wioj sat on ttiie -English » Bench in the early part of this century. He „wafl"df^itiguißhed for flisjemarkable ' politeness,, and> {or having v sentenced more .unfortunate human bflingsutoi ; deaths than any i otheri judge.iwhb^evelr presided* at/ the> County T ,A%#fees.' ; Hla 1 invariably exemplified' his pSßfe&liairnojtions of < p6lite t fie'Bß l ;even.ii\ act of 1^ p^qp His, manners ,on suc> occa«lohs .iro'ulA often have sbeen^aughablej. but forithe. deeply affeeting,situation in r )W.hichrithe 'UObappyr-pfis oner stood. .A-Trorf'sin-gular^instaßee^f th^ eicfefesive' a'nd^tinVeil pbK*eSeils tfc'cuWed^>n bne occ^sibTl djEtef the filpse, d^thptrials at tne County Assize/'Ni'ne unhappy. men ' were alj appointed to receive l #[enjbence iOf.idAaih; for,btttg-laryf. high way, beries, mod! other offences. uEfeso happeaed^however, tKatton entwitig thp names/bf the unfdrtuiiate patties'; after being' 'convicted, "'on o his own \ slip di p,aper,Baron Graham,onijtted>the name of one^prisoner. %he ' f njine[men^w,©i'e ,brougtt . up.to , receive judgement^ and the. .eight whose names were <on fbis papec were severally sentenced todeath. q&itfed the'bar^ 1 Thenin.^ «tQod in mute astonishment at the cir r cum^tance that no sen|encerwas r pas^ed on him-. The Clerk of thel'Couc^perJceiving the ,mißtake^ immediately called aloud .tor. his ilOrdflhip.jußtfpas, he waii 1 '.opening the door to leave!' the Court that he had 1 omitted* to pass 'Bentence on the übbappy man. Turmhg'round and casting a look of surprise, at the unfortunate prisoner,' he hurried back to the seat f he f had just ;yacated r and taking. apincb. ; of; snuff-^he was one of the -most inveterate snu&takers that ever lived — andiputtingott 1 the' 'black cap,- he 'tiifrpihfttoef x in the i blldWing Sti^in. tit the'^me time making a profusion ' of bbws':~" , good man, Lreally beg your pardpn for the mistake ; it was entirely, a mistake — altogether a mistake,. I assure you. The sentence of the court on you is that you be taken to the place whence you came, thence to the place of','execution, and there hanged by the\neck until you are ' dead. And the Lord have .mercy on your soul, I do b^g your pardon. I'm xery porry , lassure , you." J3o sayingihe made another bow to the unhappy man and then left the Court. > :