LETTER TO JUDGE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 115, 18 May 1933, Page 6

LETTER TO JUDGE

A GRAVE IMPROPRIETY WARNING FROM CHIEF JUSTICE. The action of a respondent in a di* voi*ce case in writing a letter to the presiding Judge was sternly criticised by His Honour, the Chief Justice, Sir Alichael Afyers, in the Supreme Court, at Wanganui yestonlav. “J found this letter on my table this morning.” said His Honour, when the ease was called. “It. is a letter that, has not been sent through the post and the. signature is ‘C. N. Bird,’ who, I presume, is the respondent in this case. 1 have not read the letter and do not know what is in it, and 1 hand it to you, Air Haggitt. It has been sent, of course, by a man who must, be very ignorant, but. even so. he might have known better than to write a letter to the Judge upon a matter that is before the Court over which the Judge is presiding. I assume that he is an ignorant num and not a man of means. I feel very much disposed to fine him for his contempt, for it is contempt. However, 1 assume that he is not a man of means, and on this occasion 1 will pass it over. One of these days sonic person who commits an impropriety of this kind will find himself heavily fined or imprisoned for contempt of Court.” Mr B. C. Haggitt (who was appearing for the respondent): 1 had no knowi ledge of the letter. Sir Michael Alyers: The thought that, von had would never cross my mind. Air Haggitt added that when he learned tho letter had been sent ho had told his client of the impropriety that had been committed.