The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-06-24
Reductions Of Lord Chief Justice COIeridSe
Ffr.t Pnner.A

layed sending IL for some days after get
ting to London. knowing that the courts
and Parliament were In session. and sup
posing that his duties on the bench and
in the House of Lords would occupy his
Lordship's time so that ne would have no
leisure. If he had the inclination. 10 show
me any attention. AT last, however. / sent
the letter by post with my card, and the
next day received note from his Lordship
acknowledging the receipt Of Mr.. Justice
Harlan's note Of introduction, saying that
he would be extremely glad TO be OF any
service TO me, and asking me TO call at
his in the law courts building on
the Strand on the next Monday, when he
would give me seat upon the bench with
him. Accompanying this was an invitation
from Lady Coleridge and himself 10 dine
with them on the following Thursday at
s o'clock. called on Monday at his Lord
ships room and found his secretary in
waiting. This gentleman. venerable
looking. mild-mannered person. was seated
at table upon which there was tray OF
gray goose-quill pens AS soon as his Lord
ship came to his room was ushered into
his presence. Lord Coleridge very
| tall, six feet three inches, should sup
pose. with an erect. but not corpuleni.
stout figure; a fine. large head, with
! smooth benignant face. a winning smile.
| and a voice gentle and well modulated.
| He greeted me most cordially, and, while
| his secretary getting the gown and
| wig. he said that when in the United
| States, in 1888. the people had almost
| spoiled him by their kindness. He spoke
| of our Presidents. and said ii was matter
! of amazement to him, when he considered
our method of choosing a chief magistrate.
| that we were so uniformly fortunate In
selecting such able men. He spoke es-
pecially of President Arthur, upon whom
| he had made a call of courtesy When he
| rose to leave, the President said: mo,
| stay longer l wish TO have a chat with
| you; you have no idea what a relief IL Is
| to have visitor who is not after an Of
| fice." He was delighted with Mr.. Arthur.
| whom he found TO be a reader OF good
books and full of interesting literary gos-
| sip. 1t was a shame, he thought. that the
| chief magistrate of a Republic of sixty
million people should be compelled TO
| waste so much time in settling disputes
| between claimants for Office. During the
talk Lord Coleridge's son Gilbert came in.
and he was full of cordiality and kindness.
| They both spoke of Blaine's ability
| diplomat and were especially compli-
mentary in what they said of bis then
| recent note to Baron Fava concerning tie
| New Orleans riot and the killing of menu
| bers of the Malta. l expressed the opin-
| ion then, which has since been confirmed.
| that the credit OF that matter belonged 10
/ President Harrison rather than TO Mr..
| Blaine. 1t is hard for Englishrnan TO
| understand that the President is in the
| habit of taking personal hand in the
management of international affairs; that
| he is his own prime minister and that his
Cabinet officers, whom he appoints ana
/ discharges at pleasure, are his under-sec-
| retaries. Speaking of the riot
at New Orleans. Lord Coleridge said that
with all the respect for law which is in
| grained in the Anglo-Saxon character, theirs
| will come times when the swift methods
Of Judge Lynch are necessary in COM
munity where crime is influential and pow
erful enough TO debauch or intimidate
courts or juries. This language, from the
| Lord Chief Justice of England while he
was assuming the wig and gown. surprised
| me, Speaking Of the English civil service.
| he mentioned several gentlemen of great
ability and attachments, among them a Mr..
| Farrar. / think. who went into the civil
service and performed important duties for
| twenty or thirty years for very inadequs.t
pay and without any sort of public recog-
| milton, their reward being a social status.
in which they were secured by the perna-
nency of their tenure. Lord Coleridge was
Attorney-genera in the Gladstone Ministry
before he went upon the bench. and will be
remembered for the ability and success
with which he prosecuted the Tichborne
claimant. A critical question was up one
night. in the Commons and it was feared
that division would come before the Lib
4 &c Ia. in FRI, ri
Gladstone requested him to speak against
time while the whips were out. and TO
talk nonsense If nothing else. for an hour.
At the end of that time Mr.. Lowe took
the floor and held it until the Ministry
benches were full and the government was
safe.
When the secretary had adjusted the robe
and wig, his Lordship asked me what I
thought Of the enormous tail to his gown.
The tail am entitled to wear as a mark
of distinction" said he. as he gathered it
in his hand and led the way to the court
room, where he had an officer bring me a
chair, which was placed beside him. The
jury-a special London jury-were in the
box. The oath was administered, the book
kissed, and Sir Charles Russell addressed
the jury from an elaborate brief. The case
was North VS.. Slopes. 1t grew out OF the
subscription and sale Of some corporation
stock. 'Sir Charles said his Lord
ship to me- lis to-day the
greatest lawyer at the English
bar" He then handed me a slip with the
names Of counsel-Sir Charles Russell, Q.
c.. Mr.. Horne Payne. @. c.. and Mr.. Nc
Intyre for plaintiff; Mr.. Finiay. Q. c.. Mr..
Candy, @. c.. and Mr.. Duke for the de-
PENDANT The interests involved were large
and the jury was made up of business men
of the best rank. Sir Charles's opening
statement showed the most perfect famil-
iarity with the case. and before he finished
ii seemed certain that he would win
was surprised to see him leave the court
room as soon as he was through supposing
| that, being senior counsel he would con-
| duct the examination of the witnesses I
was informed however. that courtesy re-
quired that the senior should absent HIM
self while his junior should examine the
plaintiff. who was the first witness. While
this examination was in progress Sir
Charles Russell could step across the hall
and argue another case and earn fat fee.
But all of his fees are large.
his annual income from his practice
being in excess of 100000. He is certainly
great lawyer. He is now the Attorney
4