Evening star., 1900-06-08
AN IRISH JUDGE.
Anecdotes of an Occupant of the
Bench for a Generation.

AnecOO1e6
Bench for GenerattOn.
From the London Telegraph.
Lord Morris, who has served his country
in judicial capacity for the long period of
thirty-three years, is a representative OF
one of the old families known as the
Tribes Of Galway" Lord Morris has
never lost that mellif1uous brogue which
distinguishes west of Ireland folk. This
characteristic provides the groundwork for
at least two stories told Of him. On one
occasion the noble lord, twice an occupant
of the Irish bench, was present at q we'd
ing in company with Judge Keogh. Morris
was lamentng that he had forgotten to
throw an old shoe after the bride and bride
groom, when keogh remarked: Throw
your brogue after them; 1t will do just as
we'll" At another time Lord Morris was
sitting at the Four Court as lord chief
justice of Ireland. when young barrister
from the north rose nervously to make his
first motion. The judge had declared that
no one listening to himself would ever take
him for anything but an Irishman, which
was perfectly correct. But Galway could
not understand Antrim. The lord chief JUS
tice leaned over the bench to ask the as
sociate where the barrister hailed from.
County Antrim, was the response Then
asked his lordship Of the official; "rii ye
liver come across sch frightful acclnt In
the course of yer loife?"
When Lord Morris first went the Con-
naught circuit, where he had practiced be-
age of thirty-nine, he gave many speci-
mems of his native wit. AT one assize town
the judges arrived late, and the grand jury.
after being sworn in, sent down true bill
in a very simple case, intended to fill up the
spare time Of the court for the heel OF
the evening 1t was a case Of the abduc-
ton of small farmers daughter by
shopkeeper. who could not arrange the
matter of dowry to the satisfaction Of his
sweetheart's relations. The accused had
met the maid near his shop. and had kept
her, half-resisting, half-consenting, on his
premises in company with an elderly female
relative. The offense was therefore only of
a technical character. Mr.. Charlie OMa1-
ley made a wonderful speech for the pris-
frieze-coated jurors that they were the
most intelligent, high minded, and naturally
gifted men he had ever addressed. Mr..
Justice Morris, when the proper time came,
Mr.. O'Malley's. amusing performance.
Dismiss it from your minds and don't go
home rp your honest wives with peacocks
feathers in your hats to proclaim the dis
tinction he piles upon you. | am compelled
to direct you to find a verdict of guilty in
this case, but you will easily see that
think it is trifiing thing. which regard
as quite unfit to occupy my time It is
much better paid for Find, therefore, the
prisoner guilty of abduction, which rests.
mind ye, on four points-the father was
not averse, the mother was not opposed, the
girl was willing. and the boy was conway
nient" After the verdict the judge sem
fenced the prisoner to remain in the dock
till the rising Of the court. Then. turning
to the sheriff. he said: Lets CO. Before
the hoy" was clear of the dock the judges
head appeared again. Marry the girl at
once he said. 'and God bless you both"
One day it fell to the lot Of Lord Norris
to hear case at coleraine. in which dam
ages were claimed from a veterinary sur
geon for having poisoned a valuable horse
The issue depended upon whether q certain