New-York tribune., 1879-01-06

troubled themselves much about 1t. But directly
1t took the form of an action for libel the puDhc
pncked up its ears. Most actions for libel are in
teresting, when such action is brought against
newspaper, it is more interesting STILL When the
newspaper happens to be society journal, the in
terest increases again. and when the journal proves
to be Mr.. Laboucheres, it becomes intense. Mr..
Robertson is not considerable person, but Mr.. La
bouchere has reputation perhaps as extensive and
diversified as that of any man in England not hold
ing an official position.
Who, then, is Mr.. Labouchere and what makes
him famousi He is man of, judge. about forty
five, of good family, nephew and legatee
of the late Lord Taunton. He has been
dplomatist. he has been Member OF
Parliament, he has been 4" in the City," very
heavily engaged in financial operations, he has held
and still holds brilliant social position, and he is a
journalist He established, and now owns and
edits that curious piece OF periodical literature
called Truth. He had made his mark earlier IN the
same profession by that remarkable and adj
mirable "Diary of Besieged Resident" III
Paris, published in The Daily Necs during 1s7O'71.
He owns theatre or two, and this action for libel
out Of which he has just victorOusis one OF SIX
all pending for law question is vet TO lie argued
in this), of which the second is theatrical cause
He is widely liked and dlslikcd. He makes cne-
mics with recklessness all his own. He has friends
who stand by him through good and through evil
report. His worst enemy would not deny HIM the
possession of brilliant abilities, nor his best friend
invariably applaud the use he makes ol them'
Men who know him much better than 90
describe him full of generous impulses, dong
many good actions which he takes pains 10 hide,
and stirred at times by hatred which he pursues 10
the bitter end. In his varied career he has ex-
hausted, perhaps, most forms of mental excite
ba hoa
thing, known everybody. In a word, lie has
taken at least half the Apostles advice. lie has
proved all things and he stands to-day in the wit
ness-box of the Queens Bench to prove one thing
more-the dishonesty of the man who has sued
him for libel
WONDERFUL WITNESS.
He is perhaps. the most wonderful witness who
ever stood up to be examined in court. He is de-
fendant as well as witness and the case is to turn
largely on his testimony but his selfpossessiOn
amounts to absolute indifference. He has a cough,
and he produces a box Of pastilles, which he
steadily consumes. Sergeant Ballantine's de-
scription of him, though meant to be hostile,
is not a bad one. 81 never saw anything
more perfect than the manner of Mr.. Labouchere.
The easy, somewhat lOungng way in which he III
terpoated his answers, relieving his throat by
means of lozenge. the occasional direct answer
the occasional turning TO the jury and looking
them in the face with as much apparent
innocence as nature had enabled him to put
on; his turning now and then to his
Lordship, the Chief Justice, and addressing him IN
that society tone, in which man was more expert
than sMr. Labouchere-all these things made me
feel that whoever got into dispute with him ran
risk of being sgnally defeated" Well might Ser
geant Ballantine say He had himself run therisk
and paid the penalty. For months previously
IL report may be trusted the learned Sergeant had
been saving that he lived in the hope of getting Mr.
LabOuchere into the box. The two men were not
friends. Sergeant Baantine has fame as cross
examining counsel second to that of no
man living Mr. Labouchere has said and done
some things which left him open, in such case
as this, to very searching inquiry. People looked
forward TO their meeting as to duel between two
swOrdsmen both masters of fence. Never was
there more astonishing result. Never did counsel
collapse completely before a witness.
In his examination in chief Mr.. La
bouchere had shown his singular power Of
lucid and rapid narrative, of forcble statement of
putting complicated facts in a simple and intelli-
gible form. When he came into collision with
Sergeant Ballantine he showed also a col
lected courage and power of retort which
left his opponent at his mercy. l con-
fess | was disappointed. l had looked
forward as many others had looked forward, to the
encounter between these two adversares, as an in
tellectual entertainment 1t was expected to last
for many hours 1t was over in ten minutes.
The Chief Justice shortened it. no doubt.
by excluding the whole OF the articles
in 1,uh on which the plaintiffs coun-
sci had meant to crOss-examine. But these
were, IN any case collateral, and it remained open
to Sergeant Ballantine to question Mr. Labouchere
on the whole substance of the case his direct exam
ination on which had occupied more than half
day. Thrice he crossed swords with him and
thrice he came away bleeding, his eremy un-
touched and smiling. Then no abandoned the
field in despair.
BALIANTISE OVER-MATCHED.
The truth is, Mr.. Sergeant Ballantine had at last
met his match, and more than his match. He was,
moreover in false position. His own name was
mixed up in the case. lie had advised the Aquarium
directors on these same facts with respect to Rob
ertson In the spirit Of Trades Unionism, which is
all powerful at the Bar Mr.. Labouchere's coun-
sci had agreed with Sergeant Ballantne
not to bring this out. Mr.. Labouchere
was none the less determined to bring it
ont Asked who was present at q certain
meeting Of the board he mentioned Serjeant Bal
lan.ine Asked little later what took place. he
recounted certain proceedings and added " Ser
rcant Baantine then said upon which the
learned Sergeant rose to protest. An expla-
nation took place between counsel. Mr. Labouchere
was told to proceed, and he resumed, with the
same quiet manner, the same absence of eagerness
Sergeant Balantne then said" when again lie
was interrupted, and fresh discussion took place.
When il was finished, Mr.. Labouchere for the third
time took up his tale in precisely the same words:
Sergeant Ballantme then sad-that upon the facts
disclosed the conduct of Robertson was criminal"
Called III by tho director Sergeant Ballantine
l.ol 4born tlot Pol art n
clearly fraudulent as to send him TO jail. Re
40; o1 hv Rohartaon hn IL A nprsuade