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In the Police Court — Judge Prowse Orders the Police to Remove Lawyer Morine—Su printendent Sullivan Re fuses to Obey. A SCENE was enacted in the Police Court this morning, in which His Honor Judge Prowse and Lawyer A. B. Morine were the principals. Anything of its kind has never been witnessed in a New foundland court room, and serious con sequences are likely to follow. The case against Michael Ryan, charged with breaking the plate-glass front in Mr. Thos. Keating’s saloon, had drawn a large crowd to the court room, and the little boy who saw the occurrence was just about to give his evidence when The Passage-at-Arms occurred. Mr. Morine arose and gave notice that he wished to take exception to the jurisdiction of the Court to try the case, asking, at the same time, that the Court take a note of his objection. His Honor said he would, and then be gan to interrogate the witness. A question put by Judge Prowse to the witness, if he (the boy) saw Ryan at Keating's corner on Saturday night, brought the lawyer to his feet with an objection to the form of the question. He (Mr. M.) again asked that the ques tion be taken down in writing, and marked ‘ objected to.” “ All right,” said His Honor, ‘I'll take a note of your objection on the point of law and To the Question.” Mr. Morine—But you are not doing it. I want the evidence taken down. Judge Prowse—I am not going to take directions from you, sir. I am examin ing a witness now. Mr. Morine—I am not giving you any directions, but I insist that the evidence be taken down here and now. Will you do so? Judge Prowse—I am not going to be dictated to by you. The Court, in cases of this kind, has to act as prosecutor, no counsel being Provided by the Crown. Still the Judge refused to write down the eeroe and still Mr. Morine in sisted that the Court go on and do it. Both parties became excited, and a faint murmur of approval was heard from the crowd in the corridors. At this point Judge Prowse abandoned his argument ative forces, and peremptorily ordered the lawyer to take his seat again, ob serving that he meant to try the case as he saw fit, and that he did not propose to be dictated to. ‘To these remarks Mr. Morine replied that he would not sit down until He Chose So to Do. Judge Prowse—Unless you sit down, I will order you out of the Court room. Mr. Morine—I will not sit down, sir. No, sir. I will not. Judge Prowse—Constable Wheeler, re move Mr. Morine from the Court room! Mr. Morine—I shall sue both you and him, if you lay a hand on me. Judge Prowse—All right. Who is the officer in charge here? Sergeant O’Brien remove Mr. Morine from the Court room! Here Superintendent Sullivan inter posed. He said he believed that he had charge while present, but that the Court seemed to ignore him on More Than One Occasion. * Well,” said the Judge, ‘* you have Mr. Morine removed. That is the order of the Court.” Superintendent Sullivan—I, then, refuse to obey that order, under the circum stances. I will not remove Mr. Marine. If I have done wrong and your honor feels aggrieved at my action, you can complain me to the proper authority. I will then explain my action. Judge Prowse—Then it appears that I am powerless, as a magistrate, to have the orders of this Court obeyed. I still order that Mr. Morine be removed from The Court Room. * Now,” said Mr. Morine, I will sit down; but I ask you to take down this question and the answer; otherwise I shall withdraw from the case.” ‘The lawyer then gathered up his papers, and was about to leave, when His Honor said: ‘* Your are a perfect ‘nuisance. Every time you come before this Court you try to raise a disturbance. ‘To this accusation The Excited Attorney replied, in an angry fashion: ‘‘ Why, be cause you are a perfect scandal, a dis grace to the community and to the posi tion which you occupy.” Here there was a general clamour and a stamping of feet. Superintendent Sullivan order ed the court room cleared, and the case went on to a close. Michael Ryan was convicted, and fined $32 or 32 days in the Penitentiary. ‘This is not the end of the row between the judge, the lawyer and the police. The other business before the Court was two drunks; they were discharged. In two drunk and disorder ly cases the offenders were each fined $4 or 8 days’ imprisonment.
Newspaper Details
St Johns Evening Telegram
St Johns, Newfoundland, CA
Tue, Nov 12, 1895
Page 4
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
CA 20 Feb 2026
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