Page:Harvard Law Review Volume 10.djvu/548

522 HARVARD LAW REVIEW. of the time. Perhaps his greatest triumph was before the Parnell Com- mission, when his terrible cross-examination of Piggott, who was chief witness for the London Times, utterly broke down the strongest part of the case against his client, Charles Parnell. Russell's opening speech for the defence during this investigation lasted nearly seven days, and called forth the undisguised admiration of the presiding justices, the opposing counsel, and the public at large. He was counsel in the arbi- tration of the United States Fisheries claims at Paris, and defended Mrs. Maybrick when she was tried for the murder of her husband. Lord Russell is of Irish birth, was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, and has been Queen's Counsel, Liberal member of Parliament, Attorney General, and Lord of Appeal in Ordinary. He is said to be a charming companion, is a great lover of sport, and an accomplished horseman, and was formerly a member of the Jockey Club and well known on the turf. The oldest English judge in active service is Lord Esher, M. R., formerly Brett, J. His career on the bench has been long and eminent, beginning with his appointment as Justice of the Common Pleas in 1868. His opinions are noteworthy for the firm and clear manner in which great principles of law are stated and applied to the facts in hand. Broad- minded, and with a high degree of legal acumen, he is regarded as the great apostle of judicial common sense. Kindly and with a keen sense of humor, he yet rules his court strictly on all points of decorum or delay, and among counsel has the reputation of being almost unduly severe. The robustness of his personality was made manifest when, entering politics as a Conservative, he boldly announced himself a Tory, and led a forlorn hope against Mr. Cobden at Rochdale in 1864. At Caius College, Cambridge, he was a distinguished athlete, winning a seat in the University boat. Lord Esher has been Queen's Counsel, member of Parliament, Solicitor General, and Judge of the High Court of Justice. The Hon. Sir William Joseph Chitty, made Lord Justice of Appeal last January, comes from a family famous in legal annals, and himself is one of the ablest equity lawyers of the time. He is a judge profound and accurate in learning and of admirable common sense. His recent promotion from the Chancery Division met with practically universal approval. He was educated at Eton, and at Balliol College, Oxford, where he took a first class in classics. He took silk in 1874, and was Liberal member for Oxford in 1880. Chitty has always been keenly interested in athletics. He was on the eleven at Eton, and twice rowed stroke in the Exeter boat when he was a Fellow of that College. For years he was familiar to the general public as umpire of the Cambridge and Oxford boat races, and even now the dinners held annually after the Henley Regatta are said to be truly successful only when Chitty presides. In social and human qualities, as well as from the professional point of view, the new Lord Justice seems to be particularly well equipped.