444
THE GREEN BAG
A PHILADELPHIA LAWYER IN THE LONDON COURTS IN THREE PARTS, ILLUSTRATED BY THE AUTHOR BY THOMAS LEAMIXG returning to the roar of London. Barristers PART I pace up and down in wig and gown, or re ACTORS on a holiday go to the theatre. tire to a window seat for consultation with The London bus driver, when he gets a the solicitor retaining them. day off, will pay his fare to see another fellow A mere sight-seer, having thus visited drive. So, an American lawyer on his the Courts, passes on, but as the adminis holiday abroad is apt to gravitate to the tration of law, from the Lord Chancellor London Law Courts and there be tempted to the "bobby," is the thing best done in to investigate the almost unknown life of England and commands the admiration and his English brethren. imitation of the world, the courts deserve Professional life in England is highly specialized and governed by many peculiar more than a casual visit. Passing one of the officers and the double customs and an elaborate etiquette. An curtained doors, one enters a rather small outsider can hardly hope to master the sub court room, quite lofty, with gray stone ject. He can only record his observations. walls paneled in oak, subdued in color and well lighted from above. THE LAW COURTS. The judge's bewigged head, as he sits Leaving the busy Strand at Temple Bar behind his desk, is about twelve feet from and entering the Law Courts Building one the floor. At his left stands the witness at plunges into that vast establishment where the same level, having reached the witnessthe disputes of millions of British subjects box by a little stairway. At the judge's are settled by law, for here the whole King right are the jury, seated in a box of either dom begins and ends its legal battles — two rows of six or three rows of four, the except some cases tried on circuit and those back row being nearly on a level with the minor matters which go to the County judge. In front of the judge, but so much Courts or the very few which reach the lower as to be obliged to stand on his chair to whisper to his lordship, sits his "asso House of Lords. Ths visitor, strolling through the lofty ciate." in wig arid gown, whom we would gothic hall and ascending one of the stair designate as Clerk of the Court. cases, finds himself in a long vaulted corri In front of the Associate, at the floor level, dor — sombre and quiet — which runs is the "solicitor's well," where sit on the around the building. There are no idle front row of benches the solicitors, in street crowds and no smoking, but, curiously dress — usually in frock coats, and carrying enough, frequent refreshments bars occupy top hats and little satchels of papers — •with corners where drink as well as food is dis their backs to the barristers, requiring a some pensed by vivacious barmaids. Here and what awkward turning for consultation. there a uniformed officer guards a curtained Then come the barristers — all in wig and door, through which may be had a glimpse gown — seated on wooden benches, each of a court room, but no sound escapes, for row with a narrow desk constituting the there is a second glass door and curtains. back of the seat in front, for the benches Groups of litigants and witnesses await slope steeply. The desks are supplied -with their turns, or emerge with flushed faces ink wells and the inevitable quill pen. The and discuss their recent experiences before barristers keep their places until their Vases
