PUTTING HIM THROUGH HIS FACINGS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1904, 15 June 1892, Page 6

PUTTING HIM THROUGH HIS FACINGS.

In the Resident Magistrate's Court of Wellington, when Sir P. A. Buckley was a comparatively young barrister, he invariably afforded a good fund of amusement for all present when he had a case in hand, and he especially delighted in " takiDg down " anyone in authority of an autocratic bearing. One case in point comes to our recollection, A number of sailors belonging to an American barque were charged with refusing to obey orders. The men had actually refused to sail in the vessel, and gave as their reason that her rigging was rotten and that she was not in a seaworthy condition. The captain, in his evidence, denied the accuracy of the men's statement with the utmost confidence ; but he had not calculated on the trouble that was in store for him, and the fun that he was to provide for all and sundry. Mr Buckley defended the insubordinate crew, and, after a few preliminary questions in cross-examination, he queried, with a merry twinkle in his eye, and just the most fascinating suspicion of the "brogue": ""You're quite certain, captain, that the statement of the prisoners that the rigging is unsound is not true ?" "Yea," came unhesitatingly from the captain. "Of course you are prepared to swear that there isn't a rotten rope about the ship?" The captain again replied in the affirmative, and then came the fun. " Now, captain," said Mr Buckley, in an insinuating manner, " there is just one other little question that I would iike to ask you, and I want you to give me a plain answer, as I know you will do — yes or no, Have you been aloft to examine the rigging ? " The captain was thoroughly nonplussed, and looked appealingly first to the magistrate and then to the inspector of police, " Come, sir," said Mr Buckley, "the question is a simple one. Have you been aloft to examine the rigging?" There was no escape, and the witness had to reply in the negative. With well - assumed indignation, Mr Buckley said : " Then how dare you come here and swear that tbe rigging is perfectly sound ! You'll just step down from that box and go and examine the rigging." The case was adjourned, and the magistrate (a retired naval officer), Mr Buckley, the inspector of police, and all concerned, marched to the wharf where the vessel was laying, and were, of course, followed by a large number of people. It was rare fun to see the unhappy Yankee skipper mount the rigging, and, amidst the jeers and laughter of the crowd, tremblingly pass from yard-arm to yard-arm. No one enjoyed the fun more than did Mr Buckley, who kept it going by constantly pointing out that there was " a little rope there that the captain had not examined."— Oamaru * Mail.'