Weekly journal-miner., 1915-08-25
RICH PICKINGS FOR AMERICAN
 LAWYERS
SEIZURES OF SHIPS BE- LONGING TO U. S. CITI- ZENS FURNISH MANY
 CASES FOR ATTORNEYS.

like being in an American court, the prize docket being crowded with cas- es involving 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 text books in support of his contention. Even the Lord Chief Justice of the Prize court, the Right Hon. Sir Samuel Evans, is asking questions about American eli ents, American customs, and sharing the distinct American atmosphere that pervades the court room now-a- days
 Here in detail are being rehearsed the hundreds of seizures of ships and cargoes which, besides their legal as pect, have in the aggregate developed the most serious political crisis exist ing between Great Britain and the United States. There have been up wards of GOO seizures and detentions of American ships, and the number of cargoes involved is far larger, for each ship carries separate cargoes to different consignees. Many of the cases have been settled, but the large number still at issue have gone through the tedious process of prize court pleadings, and this month be gan to take their turn in being thrashed out to a final decision be fore the court itself.
 The prize court is one of the laby- rinth of buildings making that histor ic landmark known as the law courts a massive pile of weather-beaten grey stone, housing all the high courts of England, with the Lord Chief Justice and the long train of lesser dignitar- ies and the various tribunals. The scene within the court as the Ameri- can cases are heard is one of impress sive dignity. The chamber itself is a vast, boX-like structure, with stone floor and walls, great cathedral win dows Altering the light dimly, and stained-glass ceiling 70 feet above. The only touch of brightness is the large gilded anchor and chains hanging back of the chief justice, an emblem of British naval power. Sir Samuel Evans, the presiding judge, is on a raised dias ten feet above the level of the row of solicitors and ad- vocates, including the attorney-gener- al and the solicitor-general, kings counselcts and junior counselors-all of them, bench and bar, in wigs and, gowns, giving an appearance of deep solemnity At the left of the judge sit two officers of the Royal Merchant Marine, in full uniform, known as nautical experts. He consults them frequently on any tech4ical question of navigation or naval construction arising in the cases.
 Back of the lawyers are the Ameri- can attorneys. in plain clothes ranks, leaning forward to coach their Brit ish brethren, but unable to say 8 word as British practice requires all the argument to be presented by off cers of the court and British subjects This has caused some little embar- rassment at times when the reserved British barrister did not urge a 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 Irishman from Ulster whQ leaped into worldfame when he organized and armed the Ulster Volunteers and dared the government to enforce home rule on Ulster. He won on that to the extent that home rule is still waiting, and now he is a member of the government, one of the newly formed coalition ministry. But there has been nothing fiery in his conduct of the prize court He speaks with out any oratorical effort, in a mono tone, hum-drum manner, all argument and no Reclamation. He appears to have little humor, for he looks blank ly at Sir Samuel on the bench when the lord justice laughs and has a joke
 In the case of the ships Kim and Fridland, carrying American cargoes of rubber, Sir Edward cited many Am erican precedents. One of them was from 3 Wallace, 555, the case of the Bermuda. He read long paragraph to uphold his contention and then paused with some apparent triumph that this American case was on all fours on his side
 But the next paragraph which you have not read" said Sir Samuel from