The Late Mr. Baron Huddleston.
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Now commenced the finest exhibition of placed, .the jury were sworn, and the trial began. While the counsel for the plaintiff forensic talent which the Law Courts can was opening his case, one could not but note display. The curtains were thrown back his lordship's appearance and demeanor. once more. The judicial chair was wheeled Mr. Baron Huddleston was then an old man half-way round, so that his lordship might and an invalid, as the precautions against directly face " the twelve men in the box" cold which we have just described suf whom he intended to persuade. He began ficiently prove. His features were impres with a sensible statement of his juridical sive and at times almost fascinating. He theory. The jury must decide on the facts, had the comfortable, settled appearance of a — that was their province,— but he was en successful man of the world, in spite of the titled and bound to give them the benefit of evident twinges of pain which attacked him his experience and training. Then he ever and anon. The wig, the robes, and the played with the fringes of the case. The curtains prevented one from forming at this inquiry had been somewhat unduly pro stage of the proceedings a more accurate longed. Counsel on both sides ought to diagnosis. But when the first witness have remembered what an exceedingly un stepped into the box, his lordship's attitude comfortable thing it was to sit for hours in underwent an entire change. He pushed these dingy and ill-ventilated courts, with back the curtains, threw his eyeglass with a their ridiculously insufficient accommoda tion. As long as he had breath, he would peculiar facial movement, the precise physi ological character of which was a standing protest against the inconvenience to which mystery to the bar, from his nose to his desk, jurymen were put by the incompetence of and fixed upon the trembling talebearer that those who were responsible for the construc searching glance which only a nisi prius tion of the Law Courts. Why, in the Palais de Justice in Brussels,— the poorest capital lawyer can command. The charge of partiality, so often brought in Europe,— every juryman sat in an arm against Baron Huddleston by ill-disposed chair! The comfort of those who exercised persons, derived its plausibility solely from important judicial functions ought to be at the fact that he saw into the heart of a case tended to. So much for the exordium. His from the very outset, formed his opinion with lordship then proceeded to deal with the amazing rapidity, did not change it in the merits of the case, laid down the law of libel course of the trial without " cause shown," from Campbell ï•. Spottiswoode, with a pass and avowedly did his best to impress his ing tribute to Cockburn, reviewed the facts, views upon the jury. We are not prepared drawing them up in a long and luminous to affirm that his lordship's conception of the array which captivated at once the imagina relative position of judge and jury was an tion and the judgment of his audience, and erroneous one; and we do say without hesi-! reiterating his former statement that the jury tation that it was found consistent with the are absolute judges upon all questions of fact, able and righteous discharge of his public concluded with a pretty strong indication of duties. While the case was proceeding, the ' where, in his own opinion, the truth may be "constitutional tribunal" received little of found. The verdict of the jury usually coin Mr. Baron Huddleston's attention. But he cided with Mr. Baron Huddleston's judg took care that they noticed all the points ment. His lordship was a good judge; but which required consideration at their hands. if he had resumed his old calling, he would At last the evidence on both sides was have been the unchallenged leader of the completed; the speeches of counsel were nisi prius bar. delivered, and it was the judge's turn. LEX.
