The Irish standard., 1902-07-26

III order to cOnfound the witness by
the ridicule of the audience.
y stupid foreman once asked Il
judge how they were to ignore Il bill.
why. sr." said Cuiran, when You
mean to find Il true one. Just write
'lgnDramous' for self and fellows on
the lack of it,"
His first celebrated cas-, of which
there is amy record WIS tried in the
year lISo. 1t was Il singular case and
served TO display the courage which
was turl'an'S chief characteristic
through life. \ Catholic had fallen
under censure. and his sister begged
Lord D"ncl1lil to force the parish
priest 10 remove the cen>urc. Doncrail
called upon the priest. and. the latter
reiusn" to yield. WAS horSrwhipprl.
An action for assault WAS the re-
suit. but lm member o. the Munster
Circuit would take Il brief against the
powerful nohleman. The St",y shock
ed Curr;ln. who volunteered his ser
vices. and they We're accepted Every
body came to sec the young I.rutest-
ant advocate fight thc latllc of a
Catholic priest and beard the all-pow-
erful nohlcmmn
Curl1ln. from the very opening of
the case. took up the most uncompro-
missing position. and den lncr;l Done
rail in the strongest terms. and. to
rreryl"dy's surprise the jury gave Il
verdict i'll favor OF the priest. In
those days. to have wl,lny even so
much from Il Protestant jury in favor
of Il Catholic priest i,n,l against a
Protestant noblrman. wAS IL triumph
of forensic skill absolutely without
precedent or parallel.
Shortly afterwslrd an gnorn, and
'lomincerin" judge named Robinson
brought Curran'S name prominently
before the public. Robins N was col
chl:llcu for a number of pamphlets of
Il political nature. which he had writ
ton for the purpose of nylltatiny
himself with the government. In the
course of case turlan observed that
he had consulted all his books and
could not find 4 single case which
really supported the contention of his
opponent. Il suspect. Mr.. C,lrr;ln," /"
interrupted the judge. With Il Snccr,
that your library is somewhat con-
trlctrd."
Cllrran stopped. There w:ls Il mo-
mrnt'S pause. All faces were turned
toward the young advoratc, wh,,
locking steadily at the Judge. re-
piled: My lord. ii is very true. ]
am pour. :,Id the circumstances have
curtailcd my library. hut ! have pro
pared myself rather by the study of
Il few good baokS than hy the e mposi-
ti"n of Il great m"ny bad ones. am
not ashamed of my poverty. but
should he of wealth were ii :,oIl,irru
ly scrvility and corruption" "If YOU
say another wnr.l." said Robinson, II
shall commit you" Then my ri" !"
replied Culr;ln. Il Sh' uld not he the
worst thing ti&d YEN had committed" +"
When the government had finally
dealt with tile incidents connected vii II
1I!'S. they immediately devoted their
attrnl"n to HE enrryin" nf the Union,
which We Know was carried in $500.
GrAttHn inside tie House and Eurl:,n
outside fought hard against il. one
day after llir act has, been carried
turran WAS setting his watch at the
ln'>t' flee. then oppuSil" the Parliament
House. when Il member who votc. i'm
the negative said To him: "t,lrrs,n,
what do they mean to do with that
useless building: For my part, ! am
sure, ! bate even the sight Of it, 81
don't wonder at it," wHs clrr:ln'S TO-
ply; Il never yet heard OF II murderer
that wnS not afraid of u ghost"
In 1890; he was appointed Master Of
the Rolls of Ireland. but hlS health
soon gave way and he died in 1917,
, and he was buried in pHtlhingtul,
Church. There his body lay for srt-
cntrrn years. when. in 1891, il was
removed to ireland. where his tomb
may he seen i'm GIaSnrvin.
Does This Interest Ymu2