The sun., 1880-12-12
WHAT rs GOING ON IN EUROPE

European newspapers. 1t was only two days
ago that the views OF the English press In re-
gard to the late Lord Chief Justice OF England
became known here. Sir Alexander Cockburn.
who for the last twenty-one years has held that
exalted post. died very suddenly OF heart dis
case. Mt the age OF rs. The deceased lawyer
belonged to an old Scotch family. the baronet-
cy. which now becomes extinet. dating from
1927. Sir Alexander was best known on this
side Of the Atlantic as presiding Judge at tho
Tichborne trial. and from the part he took In
the Geneva arbitration. Though a profound
lawyer. he did not allow his respect for the law
to blind his judgment In eases where the carry
ing out OF its ediots to the bitter end would have
worked injustice. To this trait in his character
was due much OF the respect that was accorded
to him. Referring to a celebrated assault Gaze
between newspaper mon. which occurred about
year ago. and which will be tried shortly. he
freely expressed his sentiments in private 10
the following effect: " II any gentleman strikes
another and is challenged for 1t. he cannot
avoid accepting the challenge without laying
| himself open to n charge OF eowardlee" When
| still an unknown barrister he defended man
charged with the killing OF a noted duellist who
| had forced n duel on him. Cockburn's address
| TO the jury was short and to the point. In clos
| ing he said: Gentlemen. my learned friend
| has told you that this is murder; the Judge
Will tell you tnat tnlS lS know tnat ! I
| is no murder. and you know that 1t is no mur-
der" The jury found the prisoner not guilty"
The death OF the Lord Chief Justice has
brought to the surface many amusing stories
| OF him. On one occasion, when young bar
| rister. he had to examine a witness named
| Phinn. and asked him, How do they spell 1t.
with en- + or q Ph 2" Some spell 1t one way
and some the other" replied the witness. g But
there is surely right way" 'Of course" re-
piled the witness. Very good" rejoinsd Cock
burn. How do you spell it yourself" "Oh,
| don't spell 1t at ALL / always makes my mark"
| Sir Alexander used to tell another good story
! against himself: He was counsel for the plain
tiff; Mr.. B. WAS for the defendant. Cockburn
called witness and proceeded to examine him.
" understand" he said. that you called on
the plaintiff. Mr.. Jones. Is that so2' Yes"
replied the man. What did he say ?" demanded
| Cockburn. Mr.. b. promptly rose and objected.
| The conversation could not be admitted as evil
dence. But Cockburn persisted. and Mr.. d.
thereupon appealed to the Judges. who. after a
time. retired to consider the point. They were
absent for nearly half an hour, and when they
returned they announced that Mr.. Cockburn
might put his question. We'll, what did he
say 2" asked counsel. Please. sir. he wasn't
at home" replied the witness.
| Sir Alexander was good shot and an enthu-
siastc yachtsman. He delighted in ladies' So
ciety and was very fond OF music. But he was
seen to the greatest advantage In his library.
whittier he liked to adjourn to smoke a cigar
after tho departure OF all but few favored
guests. There he used to speak freely about
his experiences at the bar and tell how he
brought home the famous Rugeley murder to
tho guilty party. At the time he was Solicitor
General. and 1t fell to him to prosecute. Pal
mer. the murderer. was a medical man. an ex-
| or nd haI ha thonubt nnrn
pletely covered up the traces OF his poisonings.
| Sir Alexander was convinced OF his guilt. gave
his whole attention to the matter. and for weeks
studied day and night the effects OF various
poisons on the human system. When he had
mastered the subject he called together coun-
ell OF medical friends and made them examine
him as to his knowledge OF toxicology. and it
was this study OF the subject that enabled him
to bring the murderer to the gallows. Palmer
is said to have remarked shortly before his ex-
ecution that nothing but the skill Of the Solic-
itor- General could have proved him guilty
writer in the London World says:
was in connec ton with the Palmer trial that he told
he cxrerenced what he considered the greatest
s'iS Ii ssS or HsS
TO G n M sn Ss over !" s|
one these which he Immediately after the YER
S @ % ss" x r.
~ conveying thereby, in sporting metaphor which
Palmer was constantly using the prisoners opinion hat
that the verdict against him had been obtained
The possibility that disease may be impaired
in the milk we drink has been shown over and
over again. and still new cases are reported 81
scarlet and typhoid fevers being spread by
means OF the lacteal fluid in the vicinity OF Lon
don and other large towns. The London Truth
now publishes a communication from physi-
elan. calling attention TO the danger of habit
| lltyH Hrip ip,y II III,
carbonic acid which supplies the =" ilzz - of these
cooling drinks has the property OF dissovng
the lead OF which the shoppers and syphons are
made. This lead. when taken two or three
times day into the system. is apt to become
actively poisonous. Nor is this the only danger
Unless the water is pure before being charged
with the gas it will retain its deleterous ingre
dients. and several cases Of typhoid fever have
been traced back to a drink Of so-called soda
water. which was in reality mixture OF car.
bonic acid gas and sewage.
BerlioZs" DamnatiOn OF Faust" has been re-
peated in London by Mr.. Charles Hall6's choir
and orchestra. brought from Manchester for the
purpose. The music is so well known in New
York that any notice OF it Is unnecessary. At
tention may be called to one fact OF Significance
for our local musicians. Mr.. Santley is sale
not to have been so satisfactory in the part o
! MephiStOphees as Herr Henschel. Now. to us i
is clear that Herr Henschel ls not as good il
the part as other vocaists whom we have beer
accustomed to decry. The conclusion is obvi
| Gus.
Under the direction OF Prof owen the Natura
History Department OF the South KensigtoI
Museum rapidly approaches completion. No
tho least remarkable thing will be the buildinI
, ITSELF concerning the symmetry and colossa
| proportions OF which the leading architects O
the world are unanimous in praise. The who'll
=, OF the collection OF wonders that has 30 lonl
been slowed away in the vaults OF tho British
, Museum has not yet arrived. but enough Il
there to give an idea OF the magnitude of tn
- undertaking. skeletons OF mammoth beast
which existed before tho present mountain
and seas were evolved from chaos are side b
, side with the newest discoveries in the animal
vegetable. aud mineral kingdoms.
The exceptionally cold weather has driver
away the fish from the Scotch waters. and hun
=, = dreds OF tons of sprats have been taken Off tn
=, coast OF Norfolk and Suffolk.
. Lord Rosebery has purchased sito for
:, mansion Mt Knightsbridge. London near tn