DEATH OF SERGT. BALLANTINE.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6117, 11 January 1887, Page 2

DEATH OF SERGT. BALLANTINE.

London, Janutry 10.

The death is announced of Sergeant Billantine, the well-known barrister, aged 74. [Men of tho Time eive? the follow ng account of his life :— He was born in London, January 3rd, 1812, and was called to the bar at the Inner Temple, June 6th, 1534. For some years he practised in the criminal court) ; in ISSS ho was created a sergeant'Ot-law ; and he was at one time engaged in many of the important cinues tried in Westminster Hall. He r. cci ved a pattnt of precedence from Lord Westbu y. Amongst other causes he was counsel 'or the Claimant in his original tuit to acqn re theTicbborne baronetcy and estates (1871). Ho has the reputation of being a f>lW»l cross-examiner, and was highly com^H mented in the House of Lords in a e : nt tor a divorce which ho conducted witluucoss agamst Sir Fit/.roy Kelly and other counsel of great eminence. In 1860 he was appointed by vote of the House of Commons, to conduct, in coojunction with Mr Barry, the Irish Attorney-General, the legal proceedings against the Mayor of Cork, Mr O'Sullivan, That functionary had made himself conspicuous by the violent expression of his political sentiments on various occasions, and had eulogized, at a public bmquet, the Fenian O'Farrell, who had attempted to assassinate tho young Duke oi Edinburgh in Australia. The House of Commons ordered a prosecution to be instituted, but Mr O'Sultivan resigned his office, and consequently the affair came to an end, In 1875 Sergeant Ballantine reoeived a brief to go " special" to India to defend a native prince, Mullur Rao, the (iaikwar of Karods, charged with an attempt to poison Colonel Phayre, tbe British Resident, The retainer was 5000 guinea*, and a further scale of fees was arranged, being estima'ed at not less than a further sum of 5(03 guineas. This honorarium is probably among the largest ever paid to counsol. The Commission which tried the case waa divided inj,opinion, the nitivo members holding the Gaikwar'a guilt not proved, and the result was an acquittal ; but tor Majesty's Government deposed the Ga<kwar on the ground of obvious incapacity and misconduct. Sergeant Ballantino is the author of "Experiences of a Barrister's Life," 1882.]