Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-01
PRIZE DOCKET CROWDED
WITH AMERICAN CASES
Scene in British Admiralty Court
These Days Like Being in United
States Tribunal.
SEIZURES UP IN HUNDREDS
Many Cases Have Been Settled, but
Scores Have Gone Through Tcii-
Gus Pleadings, Only to- Take TURF,
in Court Itself

in Court Itself.
LONDON. July 3l.-A day in the ad.
miralty prize court these days is like
being in an American court the prize
docket being crowded with cases in
folHing the seizure OF American ships
with American attorneys and witnesses
crowding the corridors and the court
room, the Attorney General. Sir Edward
Carson. citing long lists of American
cases and textbooks in support Of his
contentious, Even the lord chief JUS
tice of the prize court. the Rt. Hon.
Sir Samuel Evans, is asking questions
about American clients. American Gus
toms and sharing the distinct American
atmosphere that pervades the court
room nowadays.
Here in detail is being rchearsed the
hundreds OF seizures of ships and car
goes which, besides their legal aspect.
have in the aggregate developed the
most serious political crisis existing be-
tween Great Britain and the United
States. There have been upwards of
500 seizures ana detentions of American
ships. and the number of cargoes in
volved is far larger. for each ship car
ries separate cargoes to different con-
siEnees. Many of the cases have been
settled. but the large number still at
issue have gone through the tedious
this month began to take their turn in
being thraShed out to a final decision
before the court itself
PRIZE COURT Is ONE
OF BUILDING LABYRINTH
The prize court is one of the laby-
rinth OF buildings making that historic
landmark known as the law courts, Il
massive pile OF weather beaten gray
stone, housing all the high courts of
England, with the lord chief justice and
the long train of lesser diGnitaries and
the various tribunals. The scene with
In the court the American cases are
heard is one of impressive dignity. The
chamber itself is vast, boXlike struc-
ture, with stone floor and walls, great
cathedral windows altering the light
dinly, and stained glass ceiling seventy
feet above. The only touch of bright
ness is tho large gilded anchor and
chains hanging back OF the chief JUS
tice. an emblem Of British naval power.
Sir Samuel Evans, the presiding Judge
is on raised dais ten feet above the
level of the rows ot solicitors and adj
vocates. including the Attorney-Gen-
eral and the Solicitor General, Kings
counselors. and Junior Counselors-all
of them, bench and bar, in wigs and
gowns. giving an appearance OF deem
solemnity Al the left OF the judge sit
two officers Of the royal merchant
marine, in full uniform. known as
nautical experts. He consults them fire.
Quently on any technical question OF
navigation or naval construction aris-
ing In the cases.
Back OF the lawyers are the Ameri-
can attorneys, in plain clothes ranks,
leaning forward TO coach their British
brethren, hut unable TO say word as
British practice requires all the argu-
ment to be presented by officers of the
court and British subjects. This
g.l - L. l..
AZ times when the reserved British bar
rister did not urge n point with that
vehemence that seemed TO be warranted
by the American legal viewpoint
Sir Edward Carson, the attorney
general. is the central figure in these
prize court cases. He is the famous
fiery lrishman from Ulster, who leaped
into world-fame when he organized
and armed the Ulster Volunteers. and
dared the government to enforce home
rule on Ulster He won on that 10 the
extent that home rule is still waiting.
and now he is a member OF the gov
eminent. one OF the newly-forned
coalition ministry. But there has been
nothing fiery in his conduct OF the
prize cases He speaks without any
oratorical effort, in a monotonous,
hum drum manner, all argument and
no defamation. He appears to have
little hunor, for he looks blnnkly at
Sir Samuel on the bench when the
lord justice laughs and has a Joke.
AMERICAN PRECEDENTs
CITED BY SIR EDWARD
In the caseAof tho. ships Kim and
Fridland, carrying American carroes
OF rubber. Sir Edward cited many.
American prccedents. One OF them was
from Wallace, 555. the case of the
Bermuda He read n long pnragra oh
TO uphold his Contention. and then
paused with some apparent triumph
that this American case was on all
tours on his side
But the next paragraph which YOU
have not read said Sir Samuel from
the bench, turns the case agains, Won :,
The difference between the British
ana American practice was shown when
eHorts were made TO get copy Of tho
printed brief and affidavit, which Sir
Edward Carson had been reading in
open court In American courts these
printed briefs are open 10 any one. Blu,
"hen application was made to the
clerks OF the prize court they were
scandalized al the request Briefs. they
explained, were rlgidly secret never
gong beyond the solicitors. who guard
co them as matter OF professional
ethics.
The registry OF the prize court is an
other vast structure adjoining il. with
endless bureaus through which the
american attorneys wander in guest Of
various branches OF their cases. always
receiving The greatest courtesy but al
ways with the mass OF tradition and
conservatism against quick action And
yet Inc officials resent any suggestion
that there has been any delay in these
prize cases, although the American li,i-
giants are smarting under what they
claim is delay One OF the chief ON
Gals. Mr.. Lowell. register OF admiralty,
said
There is absolutely no delay so far
as the prize court is concerned Sir
Samue! Evans is sitting carly and late
He is going 10 give up the usual sum
rner recess % the court. which begins
in August, in order 20 dispose Of these
cases with the greatest prornptncss."
one Of the British officials who has
had most 10 do with these prizc cases
said II was man.fcsuy Impossible for
the political branch % the government.
the Crown. 70 hurry the legal branch