The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-02-13
SOME ODD CUSTOMS AT
ENGLISH MURDER TRIALS

ters' benches. and the guests CALLER
les all eyes are turned upon him. His
weak vanity is excited, and with mani
fest satisfaction he returns with d
faint, conscious smile and wandering
gaze about the courtroom the curious
stare of tho brilliant assembly.
The American visitor to the Central
Criminal courts is surprised to see a
large, .pyramidal heap of dried aro-
desks of the presiding Judge. lord
MAYOR. and sherifs. He also observes
that the carpet Of the judicial dais is
thickly strcwn with the same herbs
and leaves. More astonishing, how
ever. is h spectacle Of the lord
mayor. sheriffs. aldermen and Judges
entering the courtroom, each bearing
in his right hand large. round, COM
pact bouquets of red and pink roses OF
sweet peas bound up in h white I'M
itatlon lace. embroidered and perfor-
ated long white paper holders. 1t re-
sembles the old-tashioned bouquet our
ladies carried at social functions so
Years n more ago. This curious
custom originated in the year 1850.
when so persons attending the April
sessions of the Old Bailey. including
the lord mayor. two judges. aldermen
and unders1erfs. we're stricken with
Jail fever and died from its effects.
FROM that time h aromatic herbs.
called "strcwings." have been daily.
during the summer sessions. scattered
on the floor of the judicial dais, and
the heaps of rose leaves placed upon
the judges. lord mayors and sheriff's
desks.
There are. however, traces Of a SIM
lar earlier custom of scattering dry
leaves on the dais, originating at the
time Of the great plague in 1855.
In former times the "streWings" and
fresh flowers perfumes were believed
to ward off tho recurrence Of the "Old
Bailey's fatal fever germs. The Gus.
tom Of his lordship. the lord mayor,
n sheriff's appearance at the open.
ing of court, slowly treading over a
path of dried rose leaves is still con-
scienttously observed despite the
splendid modern sanitation of the
courtroom.
The Chief Justice at Luncheon.
At luncheon the sherifs escort the
lord chief justice. and such guests
as he may invite, to an adjoining jul
dicial dining room. Here his lordship
and honored guests enjoy the typical
English luncheon. The proverbial
chops and tomato sauce" the same
kind which figured so fatally in poor
bic F'ickwick's epistolary indiscre-
ions to Mrs. Bardell. the incompara-
BILE English GAS beet and Yorkshire
pudding and plentiful liquids, not
confined to tea. are conspicuous upon
the bountiful board. The consequent.
tial head butler, large. rotund. Of rubi-
visage, is arrayed in drab uni
form with huge brass buttons, knee
breeches Of lighter shade, white
stockings. and buff pumps. Likewise
the walters are attired. except that
their buttons are fewer and smaller.
The scarlet-robed, white wigged
lord chief justice. the rich blue robed
lord mayor and aldermen. and. several
white. wigged black-gowned distin-
guished barristers put aside ofncial
dignity for jolly good fellowship.
His lordship. like all great men, is
simple and unaffected. He leads in
the u~nrestrained talk. in which Amer.
lean politics Is touched upon. show
ing a thorough knowledge Of our
present-day great political problems.
He speaks knowingly OF the ability
and statesmen. His democratic 'q man
ner at luncheon is In striking antithes-
is to his austere judicial bearing while
presiding over the fate Of Crippen.
Cigars and coffee conclude the
luncheon. The judicial procession re-
turns to h courtroom.
The picturesque undersherin. arm
ed with silver-hilted sword, leads,
then the sheriffs. lord mayor. alder.
men and lastly tho commanding fig-
ure Of his lordship remoun t the
judges dais. Crippen. who lunches
in the dungeon below. pops up, like
u boyhood's jack-in-the-bo into
the central prisoners dock. and the
trial proceeds.
The frequent adjournment Of Eng
lish courts at 4 p. m. for tea II q sur
prising sight to American visitors.
Shortly before Crippen was sentenc.
ed to death. Lord Alverstone gravely
adjourned court. and he. the lord
mayor. aldermen. and twelve able.
bodied. robust jurors solemnly march
put Of the courtroom for a fifteen
minute indulgence in the i~nvariable
English tea and Toast awaiting them
In the adjoining chamber.
The English murder trial proceeds
to is close with all the orderly pre-