The Herald of Wales. — 1888-12-15 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

AND HURDFR CASES.  EXTRAORDINARY ECENE IN COURT. The Glamorgaeshire Winter Awfmis were _petted on Thursday snorting at the Guildhall, Swansea. The grand jury had been summoned for 11 o'clock, but the judge (MrJustice Charle.) arrived at the hail of justice fully ten minute. before Rest hour. A contingent of thi. Swateea Borough Police Force was drawn up the entrant*, each of the finely built constables carrying a halberd. The Mayor of :iwanses, wearing his robe and chain of office, ace Imprint d by severe) Corpo alien theists, was also prenent. Mr Jus'ice Charles! ! is the latest additi in to the judioial bench, and in Lis present capacity he haa not visited ' Swansea before. When he last appeared !our law courts it was as leading counsel for the !Corporation in the great water oases. Ac Quian'sCoutisel, Mr Charles distinguished hiin self more by ihis learning, his knowledge of law, and his mastery of details than by hi. eloquence. lie was always considered a great teolesiastieal lawyer, and ninety a time has tee been engaged in long sad subtl ' irguments en questions affecting the Churih. fines his elevation, though but a short tine ago, his lordship had tiii sevcral CIL,ON of griai importance, among them being, if we reieem. rightly, those) of the Trafalgar-equere riots. Direetly the grand jury bad been sworn, Rb. judge proceeded to deliver his charge in a clear, uistinot voice. Referring to the cases of highway robbery' he pointed out that recently the streets of Cardiff had been the scene of many of these outreges. Its dwelt at some length upon die abortiou mime, plainly intimating hie (pinion that it would be their duty to bring in true bills against John Rees and his wife. ilia lordship got stranded the names of the places, especially slaughtering the pronounciation of places connected with the Pontardawe murder. Even when surrounded by ad the solemn app.ndegas of justioeit was impossible to represe a. laugh when the j udge tranf erred "Glynmei, ick" to the extent of making it tilyncook, Even Arab. deaden Gel fti the, NV hooccupiesa seat on t he benches the High Sheriff's chaplain, positively tittered. After the °barge had been delivered the bar treoped in to the number of 30. Many of them had to be content with etaudingroom—nogreat Moonvenience and hardship to such youthful wearers of wig and gown, These assizes on jug simply criminal, the great legal lumineriee are omeepicuousli absent. There ia no rustling of silk—the gown. are all of etuff. The first prisoner nut into the dock was John Fitzgerald, deeoribed as a tailer,and charged with burglary at Cardiff. As soon as he came to the front 'if the dock, he ammo:toed to make the most extraordinary motions with his hands and head. He saluted the judge, the jury, the bar, the press, and the ladies in the gallery. The clerk of arraiges, Er '8 edhen (eon of Mr Justice l'tephen) in a-sUrv, loud voice, asked the prisoner whetht r he was guilty or act, but he took no notice, simply continuing his salaams, and making no rep'y. The Jude., after looking at him for a few minutes, said sharply, "Now, Fitzgerald, look at me and answer. You are putting all that on. ire you guilty, or not?" Bat Fitzgerald still stood iu mute activity. 1114 lordship, having again closely regarded the prisoner, turned to the jury, which had now entered the box, and said the case would have to stand over until Fitzgerald had been examined by a doctor, and it was ascertained whether he was mute of malice or not.