NEEDED COURAGE.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XI, Issue 44, 4 November 1893, Page 383

NEEDED COURAGE.

A CERTAIN York judge has a habit which sometimes annoys members of the bar who appear before him—particularly young men—of talking to his associates on the bench while the lawyers are delivering their speeches ; but however exasperated they may be, the lawyers have not, as a rule, the boldness to complain, for they recognise the power of the court. An eminent lawyer of York, however, set them an example. He was about to make the closing speech in a highly important case. Forty minutes had been allotted him for the purpose. He had scarcely uttered a dozen words when the judge wheeled round in his chair and began a discussion with his associate on the bench. The lawyer ceased speaking immediately, folded his arms, ami gazed steadily at the judges. A hush fell upon the court-room. The offending judge noticing the stillness, turned around and looked enquiringly at the silent advocate.

• Your Honor,’ said the lawyer, ‘ 1 have just foity minutes in which to make my linal argument. I shall not only need every second of that time to do it justice, but I shall also need your undivided attention.’

‘ And you shall have it,’ promptly responded the judge, at the same time acknowledging the justice of the rebuke by a faint flush on bis cheeks. It was an exhibition of genuine courage, but one that was more fully appreciated by members of the profession than by the others who witnessed it.