THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1948.
The odd cas of the man who
always carried dolls
as told by
Sir
*
Fabriel, Hastings
When a young mam, seeking a successful career, establishes him- sell in his profession or industry he has leaped his first hurdle. 'Now comes the effort to excel. What does he do?
He studies the ways and ·
customs of his masters, and absorbs their wisdom.
So, in this second chapter of his life story, we find Sir Patrick. Hastings, now a barrister, study- ing his law where he could best learn it- in the courts. He listens to Rufus Isaacs
and Edward Carson, the mighty men of the day. And, by pertinacity, lie eventually reaclies the chambers of the dis
Horace tinguished Avory, later one of the greatest of our judges.
THE usual way in which a beginner spends his early
T
K.C.
with some sound advice on how
to master your job
I think perhaps that Rufus. Isaacs had the most persuasive and attractive manner of any advocate I have ever known. A dry point of inw became a poem in his hands.
Henry Duke was heavy, almost ponderous, both in his utterance and in his manner, but he was immensely powerful, and to a dishonest witness his blows had the force of a blacksmith's hammer.
Of Edward Carson I can still only speak with reverence,
He was by far the greatest advocate I have ever known; to my mind no one has even remote- ly approached him.
His power of cross-examination was not an art, it was simply natural genius,
Whether his task was long or short he never wasted a word; he knew what he wanted to achieve and he never
stopped until he
days at the Bar is as a hnd achieved it. pupil in gome great
man's but no one has
chambers, where in exchange ever suggested for the sum of 100 guincas he that he asked is supposed to acquire some one superfluous thing of his learning.
But when I came to make my start I had not got 100 guineas.
question...
To his ponents he was
op-
As I could not be a pupil I always generous-
courteous, had to learn my profession by and
and the though he was
some
other
means,
obvious solution was to study occasional
at the fountain-hend.
The Royal Courts of Justice were only just across the street, and there the greatest advocates were practising their profession every day. Surely that was the place to learn!
Day in court, then to Fleet-street
Eight hours or so in court would leave plenty of time in which to scratch a living out of Fleet-street.
So for three months from the
ly exasperated incompe- by Lence, and, above all, hc. hated being bored.
ISAACS--- the most per- suasive manner'
CARSON by
far the greatest advocate'
result
entered
AVORY-I
owe him much'
10
on
It is true that they only came to RED Avory, but my name was the door, and there was always a possibility that they might come in- to the wrong room by mistake.
There
work than I was more
brief of could do because every
their Dame Was Avery's-and leglon was brought frat to me.
Unlike Gill's briefs, which were mainly of the same pattern, Avory's were intensely varied, and I read them all.
Opinions I wrote for him, which he usually tore up, but occasionally adopted; points of law I prepared. for him which he might or might the experience adopt; but . not
which I gained was such
could
other
surroundings
brought to me.
Dy no have
Whether or not I was of any use
to him I never
knew, because
during the whole time I knew him he never expressed either approval
or disapproval of anything. I did.
Beginnings of
a practice
Every Larrister has
been asked
how he a practice, difficult to
the chambers of great
at some time or another one of the figures of the first began to collect English Bar, and it is always very Horace Avery, say or indeed to know, but there Is usually one name which stands later Mr Justice
out in his recollection ns being the 'Avory.
first and thereafter the most im-
floor at
that
Avory had small portant client, chambers on the
In my case the name was ground No. 4 Crown of Herbert Easton, a young solicitor Once-row. He with a large Insurance practice. His had a large room clients were continually being sued for himself and by people who had occasionally sinali one suffered some genuine injury, but
more frequently had not.
one which was used by C. Bron.
At the very moment of my an xious quest Biron became a metro- politan magistrate,
Avory decided to
leave Biron's
If I were asked at some time or another to epitomise Carson's greatness as an advocate, 1 should say that he had the power of convincing his tribunal of case in which not only that his cause was just genlus,
art of ablaining I discovered that Gill's clerk was for elderly
gentlemen a close-friend-of Avory's clerk, acquittals but that his--client-was-master in the
whose affectionate disposition led to whose name was Ashley. I per- clerk to take me honest as his advocate.
their being charged with indiscre- suaded Gill's
of round. Corners the darker tions
There was one particular class room unoccupied for the future, but
a I had very different views.
It sounds comparatively easy. but it is not.
day I was called my routine Wrote a book and
never varied. Between the hours
dedicated it
of ten and four I sat on a back Soon I came to realise the seat in one of the many Courts importance of association with of Justice.
some really busy and important chambers.
In that three months I learn-
ed more than I had ever learned
The chambers below those in
in all the years I had lived up which I occupied a humble seat
to that time.
He was
of
Illuminated.
Charles was
an absolute
whe
They were old gentlemen made a practice of falling off tram- cars, and elderly ladies who con- stantly had the good fortune to slip on non-existing defects in premises which they conducted their shopping expeditions.
at
one case.
A
I well remember gentleman had fallen off-a-ladder. and guet-sive weeks of compensa- tion had
effect n most peculiar upon him.
Instead of any improvement in his health he deteriorated into
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He, was unable to leave his home NEWLY ARRIVED POND'S GIFT SETS
in public parks.
Ashley greeted me with courtesy me I should Probably he was largely respon- but doubt; he told
persunding sible for the erection of the large have great difeully number brilliant lights with Avory to take me as a tenant, but which Hyde Park is now as far as he personally was
cerned he was more than helpful,
I Itis only
was that concern should prove myself able and will- ing to relieve Avory of some of his Very arduous work.
mental imbecile.
ConTM
Pud
nat
home with I was once walking Smeed, his clerk, from n police had been up- court in which Gill pearing on such a charge.
סגן
Both at our first Interview As we crossed the Park we came thereafter it is quite possible
des.re particular The first time were the home of C. F. Gill. At to a very brillant electric light, Ashley had I went into court, although only that time Gill - was ሲ very standard uf obvious recent origin. ether for my affection or my re- spcct. 1 can only say that he will "silk," and a spectator, I was as nervous fashionable
always have them both. regularly engaged in most of the sensational cases
uncomfortable
My and
was
of the
beenme My companion
affected with 穎 somewhat cxaggerated melancholy. I asked
the
as the proverbial kitten. wig Wus horribly new; I felt miserably day. It occurred to me that it out of place.
would be extremely valuable if I could by some means join him in his work.
I watched the line of counsel take their places with awe and veneration; the entrance of the judgo was almost the appear ance of a being from another world.
And then the case began. It was of no particular or general interest, but it must have been of some importance by reason of the counsel who were gaged. →→
CI-
a
I decided upon the somewhat re- markable expedient of writing law book, with which I could up- proach lm and request that he would accept a dedication from a devoted admirer.
reason.
him
"Do you see that beastly Night?" ho sald. "When the authorities put that in this corner it lost Mr Gill
£2,000 a year,"
nt the always the most difficult.
year The Arst
Bar is
During my. Arst year I earned 60 guineas and in my second nearly I calculated that he would be so
£200. that it the request surprised by might actieve the desired result.
And
so it turned
out. Armed with a virgin ropy I approached him.
So I met Mr.
Horace Avory
time to
have u
It was then They were pointed out to me. His amazement was no less than change. Everyone who has practised was also at the Bar knows the importance One was Henry Duke; another I anticipated, but there
I of getting into first-class chambers. was Rufus Isaacs; and the third a distinct twinkle in his eye.
could almost hear blm saying to
It is perhaps the most important was Edward Carson.
himself, "And then what?" So I
man's life, and step in a young told him.
certainly the most diflcult.
The best
Listening to
the great
who
chambers are neces- few and the oppor- for entering them, of
name
was F. E.
without a' companion to protect
him, and on his repeated visits to who the many insurance doctors were called upon to examine him, not only did he appear to be a pitiable and sympathetic object, but his mentai colle was so complete that he carried with him large dolls with whom he conducted an affec- tionate but one-sided conversation. could be ob- No medical opinion tained that he was shamming,
I saw Avory himself. Even now
I owe him so much,
lind it difficult to speak of him. Floods of tears
He was small, almost insignificant in appearance, but he had a per- sonality which could look infinitely forbidding.
in Harley-street
As a last resort Herbert Insisted upun a final visit to the doctors, to which the lunatic and his family reluctantly agreed.
He said he did no want anyone At the appointed hour this, un- In his chambers, so I said I could happy creature appeared at Harley- bo very useful to him, as I could street accompanied by a male com- make a note for him on his briefs. panion and carrying in his arms his
beloved dolls. His reply was a very simple one. but I have never forgotten it.
"No one but a fool," he said, "ever makes a note on his own
should briefs, so why
ho want someone else to do it for him?”
I lost my temper. I said that if he didn't want me to help him would leave me more time to my- self. And then he laughed.
It was one of the few times 7 over heard him laugh, but from that moment I saw him as a com- pletely different man.
"All right," he said. "If Ashley doesn't mind your coming I don't."
·
An
He was unaware that a number of photographers were taking enthusiastic Interest in his move- ments.
He left Harley-street in floods of tears, with the dolls pressed to his bosom, and was photographed in that distressing condition.
He was photographed again some two miles away, just as he was entering a public-house.
Both he and his companion ap- peared to be considerably improved in spirits, and the dolls were then reposing in his pocket.
The last pictures showed them both emerging somewhat unsteadily from their refreshment, deeply im- mersed in a copy of a racing paper studying before which they were their imminent departure to Hurst Park.
He was very nice about it, and allowed mo to take away one of The case lasted three days, his briefs to read and, see it I sarily very
course, very slight. The first day I left the court could make a note that would be tunities
of any uso to him. thinking I had been listening to
Gm. New name over with Charles It was the first brief I had ever -I consulted the three greatest men
fell upon a rising the door now seen. I read it until I know every and his cholce had ever lived, to emulate whom word by heart, and I think I could junior who had just arrived from
were two The next day there Liverpool. His would be an impossibility. almost repeat it now.
door over the
of No. 4, names Smith.
Crown Office-row--Horace Ayor The second day I was more I made notes of interminable
non-existing Armed with an introducilon, I and Patrick Hastings. critical, and began to draw dia. length, and dug out
points of law; I did almost every called upon him, but the only per- tinctona between their respec- thing to that bilef except set it son I succeeded in interviewing was tive morits...
an extremely haughty one in the different place from that day. 1 camo abruptly to an end. shape of Mr Smith's head clerk, had the only other room in the best The third day I came to the In the result I should imagine who told me that Mr Smith's cham chambers in the Temple. I was watched over by clerks who were conclusion
berg were full. that there was a that enthusiasm
great solicitors 'unsurpassed, and distinct opening at the Bar for experience, for during the next two
I sometimes think that that was whose hames were household words liks humming- a promising young barrister year I was allowed to work on
almost every caso in which Gill the most fortunate moment of my nitted in and out whole career, because as a direct birds In an aviary.
to music...
like myself. I was very young, appeared. ·
made up for in-
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