AMENITIES OF THE BAR.

West Coast Times, Issue 3233, 4 February 1876, Page 3

AMENITIES OF THE BAR.

During the progress of the case of Hughes v. Shand, in Dunedin, there were some, sharp dialogues between counsel, of which the following is a specimen : — Mr Smith : Properly speaking, plaintiff should not have been asked about her love affairs; and what must the jury think of tbe man tba* stood b.y_ and allowed a woman to be tortbred by counsel, and iusftucted his counsel from time to time to put «uch questions. But he, when he allowed' the plsriiitrff tb be fed' tbftufed, knff thai a tiuifc of retribbtioa wohW arrive, and thank God It bad arrived. Not content with this, Mr Barton "nimself bandied wretched jokes, and asked, " Was Mr Wood a nice man ?" He would not dwell longer on the gross indecency of those questions. Mr Stout: A what man ? Mr Smith : A nice man. Mr Stout : Oh ! a nice man. t thought you said a nightman. Mr Smith: It is just as bad. It is worthy of a nightman.

Mr Stout : That is not very courteous to the Bar.

His Honor : It is neither courteous to the Bar, nor courteous to the Court. Such an observation should not be made.

Mr Smith : I shall withdraw the word and apologise for iisihg it. * * *. Mr $toui in Ms opening address disclaimed the intention of assailing the plaintiff's character. Mr Stout : I never did assail it. Mr Smith : And you have not intended

Mr Stout: If you nish me to prove what I say, put me in the box* And f will give evidence. Mr Smith : That answer is in keeping with the contemptible way in which this defence has been conducted. Mr Stout : If this is to be a sort of bear-garden, I dm afraid the usual courtesy between the counsel will not h;e shown.

Mr Smith : Mr Barton asked the plaintin* if, on hearing of Mr Grant's death, she did not at once hasten out for the purpose ef becoming Mrs Grant No. 2. That produced s different impnspion on the audience. He was sorry to say that some laughed, but the hisses predominated.

Mr Smith : There are some mvuluutaiy expressions drawn from human beings, which, to say tfate least, are pardonably ana* I took that to be uch an ebullition. !

Mr Barton : There was no hiss.

Mr Stout: Counsel has no right to allude to this, knd it may be a ground for a new trial — so I warn counsel, if he makes improper suggestions to the Jury. His Honor : It would be a most unwarrantable thins; if the Jury were influenced. I think you had better drop the subject, Mr Smith. Mr Smith : I faave done so, your Honor.