The Express.
London, England, 1851-09-30 00:00:00

NEWSPAPER EDITOR.

LIVERPOOL, MONDAY.
Thu rooming, at the sitting of the County Court,
this case against Mr. Whiny, the proprietor and editor of
the Liverpool Journal, for an alleged contempt of court,
eras called on, when Sir George Stephen appeared on behalf
et that gentleman, but the 'canna Judge decided upon
having the defendant present in person.
In about half an hour Mr. Whitty made his appearance,
end the charge was immediately proreeded with.
The first witness called by the Isarnad judge was Mr.
Sumac-, the examiner of this toeirte who, on being sworn,
deposed that on Saturday wrig irk about ten o'clock, •
person we. posting bills in he iee• baohood of the court,
lOW of them within ten or • dates yank and others thirty
or hrty yards trees the end. These placards wean en-
.waneek. lb yablienthra of the harnalinit fishiest a
Lae la large ishere.. Kr. Iteashafb of themett
a Liverpool.' It wan impossible ter judge, in
to the court, to avoid seeing thine and witness lita
notconsider them fair reporting at all, key were placed
so as to catch his Honour's rye in his way into court. Upon
the arrival of the judge, witness received orders to pull
down the placanl, which he accordingly did. It was now
produced in court. The practice was common fur news-
papers to post bills In the neighbourhood of the court ; the
Chronicle bills had twice referred to Mr.Rannhay, but the
learns? several times.
. . .

Sir George Stephen inquired of his Honour what pre-
vious acts had to do with the specific offence charged against
3(1. Whitey?
The Judge said that the evidence went to show that it
eras a practice to insult the Judge, and bring the adminis•
tration of justice in that court into contempt among the
people of Liverpool, and, therefore, it must be considered
in tae amount of whatever punishment he might feel it his
duty to inflict.
Sir George Stephen, with submission, protested against
his client being made responsible for former placards.
The Judge said, he was not going to punish Mr. Whitty
because former placards were posted ; but it was necemary
that a judge should be respected, and he could not be re-
rpected if he were to be "objected to a system of annoyance
like that which had been practised by the defendant and
others. The act of parliament had placed stringent powers
in the hands of the Judges of County Courts.
The exaniination of the witness was then proceeded=
and it was elicited that from 100 ti NM plow& Immo
fa various parts of the town ; the wham lei haws many
Insults in the court in consequence of these placards, and
even while he win taking down the bill in question, a man,
who woe present, called the judge a low scoundrel.
The Judge—You see, Sir George, the poison has operated
petty rapidly. To the witness: Did you take that person
Sato custody ?
Witness—.Yo, your honour; I had no orders.
In cross-csamination by Sir George Stephen it transpired
that the occurrence took place outside the court, upon which
fact, the learned counsel contended, the judge had no juris-
diction.

The Judge said the act of parliament was explicit on the
lOW he was protected not merely in the court but in
going or comiug ; and the effect of that placard was to dis-
tempo. his mind for tho administration of justice on that

Sir George Stephen contended that the legislature could
net hate contemplated any provision for protecting the
mind of a judge • if the line in the placard were taken by
belt, he submitted that no possible insult could be extorted
Irons it. What did it say ? Merely, " Mr. Ramshay's
opinion of the people of Liverpool." And if it were to be
taken in connexion with the paragraph in the paper itself,
it was not attempted to be dealed that the paragraph was a
fair and impartial report of what bed really taken place in
the court, land that the words mod by his Honour were ac-
(*rattly quoted.
The Judge said, that whether the paragraph were an en-
maim or against ham, he did net know, for he had not
read the paper. He task cite limed es t stood, upon its
Own mints, and it wee not Cu be erlered that those who
were charged with the administration of justice, especially
amens the poor and ignorant, wimp were easily misled by
announcements at this kind, should be subjected to anaoy- ,
sem that might have the effect not only of unfitting them
for the due execution of their duties, but of taking from
them that degree of respect white was Mdkpmite for'.
the proper exercise of their duties, and et saiitiag
some of the numerous parties whew be bed to
decide, to make an attack area life. The life of
County Court Judge was of ems value to his friends,
whatever it might he la its eademden of thate who
thus assailed him; aid b we leaky that if there was
no cheek put to a spasm of ameriass of this kind, the
melancholy end of a mesa exalted seas than himself
Wen possibly be his. The lesemed Nip then proceeded
at considerable belga to ealmedvert sa Ms evils to which
the communitv wield be sohleet if judges were not pro-
tected, stated atet be lea maigetulf boi lower
le whaiuister lest* any sad 1*"..4
man was that iMoNamil midi say allow of the tract he the
discharge of his duty_ , be would have Ida brought Beim
and heavily bad.
Sir ("fge !Ila =illy submitted, as a member
cr the by. Pews be plat ef, isoMea to his
bower, bat see Asa the pt*6 led the law
barked !aloe the beams obi eleantes se plaits pro-
pent% Us selleseil Se tb• buboes tame tbe Isawliair•sa-
'used the se
y meat of Me. lama lfteat. hs Iler MN of see
anatenees id& wen One' hi =ilfisfed
7tiaks had body ommatot ibe of . Suedes
'remould is tb awe et the psis, but it was wee ihr a
aeseseat held that fa oblar of lbw area es lamb le the
ttee a onlinagt of emit bei bus ialeaiedl aid the
of labos we set he be (avoid; the
=lied * rle iiimmat is Se acts of the
• sad Ile pined tal et aileetive whet-
▪ ; hen bersg ask ea boa ileshisi, be
Weis dime Beebooe, fill mks
leeneeb Doeibe dielloiaa hal air aid,
tall beneely ma 1101 Mi la 11b boreraes wokoa
laarriabt ail own eopees eghtba *seem Ma.
o vihmehloolleassobaisial sted. as *semi% what ell Ile row
Beere of with auirp#alsi lowly ,ed
*stint Sfollemeoe, with all it. waserm