COURTS(9)
Continuation.
255
The late Mr. John Hays, who while with Messrs. Johnson, Stokes and Master was called as a witness at the Supreme Court and subjected to cross-examination by Mr. Francis, once convulsed the Court (including the late Sir John Carrington the then Chief Justice) with laughter when, in answer to a question by Mr. Francis, "What took you up to the Magistracy?" he laconically replied "A chair."
Towards the close of his career, Mr. Francis was frequently unsuccessful in the Supreme Court when opposed by the late Mr. Sharp, who was exceptionally able, both as a lawyer and as an advocate
COURTS(10).
The second of a series of three articles on Hongkong barristers and solicitors who practised during the latter part of the last century is published to-day.
These articles, contributed by "Old Mortality", amplify, and, in most cases corroborate the observations of Mr. Fraser-Smith whose article, headed "The Local Devil's Own" was recently re-printed in these columns.
To-day "Old Mortality" deals with the careers of Andrew John Leach, Edward Robinson, Alfred Parker Stokes, Godfrey Cornwall Chester Master, Herbert Johnson Gedge and William Wotton.
Andrew John Leach was called to the Bar by Lincoln's Inn on November 17, 1876 and admitted to practise in Hongkong on February 12, 1885. He was acting as Attorney General in 1889 when the Praya Reclamation Scheme was under consideration - his magnum opus being the Praya Reclamation Ordinance 1889. He had many battles in Court with Mr. Francis, wherein the temperature was not always of the variety labelled "cool".
Edward Robinson was called to the Bar by Gray's Inn on January 26, 1881, and admitted to practise in Hongkong on January 5, 1888. "Patient and painstaking" aptly describes him. "A very parfit gentil Knight sans peur et sans reproche". He died of typhoid very shortly after the death of Mr. Francis, just when his chance in "the Lists" seemed to have arrived. He was what would nowadays be described as a "keen kiker". Every Sunday, he joined what was known as "The Radmen's Party" headed by the late Mr. William Hutton, Potts, (familiarly known as "Tin Potts") and Mr. Edward Osborne (of the Hongkong and Kowloon Wharf and Godown Co.) in their exploration of the New Territories. It was said that the cause of his illness was the drinking of water from an impure spring near (I think) Shanghai.
Arthur Bulmer Johnson was admitted in England on January 31, 1867, and in Hongkong on July 4, 1873. Extremely self-possessed and never in a hurry. On the very eve of his retirement from the Colony (in 1896), he was instructing the late Mr. Sharp in a case at the Supreme Court, and remained in Court carrying out his duties in connection therewith until he had just time to get on board the vessel wherein he had engaged his passage, remarking to Mr. Sharp, as he (Mr. Johnson) was leaving the Court, "Well, good-bye, I must go now, so as to catch my boat."
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Continuation.
255
The late Mr. John Hays, who while with Messrs. John- son, Stokes and Master was called as a witness at the Supreme Court and subjected to cross-examination by Mr. Francis, once convulsed the Court (including the late Sir John Carrington the then Chief Justice) with laughter when, in answer to a question by Mr. Francis. "What took you up to the Magistracy? " he laconically replied " A chair : "
Towards the close of his career, Mr. Francis was fre- quently unsuccessful in the Supreme Court when opposed by the late r. Sharp, who was exceptionally able, both as a lawyer and as an advocate
COURTS ( 10 ).
The second of a series of three articles on longkong parristers and solicitors who practised during the latter part of the last century is published to-day.
These a rticles, contributed by " Old Mortality amplify, and, in most cases corroborate the observations of Mr. Fraser-Smith whose article, headed "The Local Devil's Own " was recently re-printed in these columns.
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To-day Old Mortality " deals with the careers of Andrew John Leach, Edward Robinson, Alfred Parker Stokes, Godfrey Cornwall Chester Master, Herbert Johnson Gedge and William Wotton.
Andrew John Leach was called to the Bar by Lincoln's Inn on November 17, 1876 and admitted to practise in Hongkong on February 12, 1885, He was acting as Attorney General in 1889 when the Praya Reclamation Scheme was under consideration - his magnum opus being the Praya Reclamation Ordinance 1889. He had many battles in Court with Mr. Francis, wherein the tempetature was not always of the variety labblled " cool ".
Edward Robinson was called to the Bár by Gray's Inn on January 26, 1881, and admitted to practise in Hongkong on January 5, 1888. "Patient and painstaking " aptly describes him. "A very parfit gentil Knight sans peur et sans reproche " He died of typhoid ) very shortly after the death of lir. Francis, just when his chance in the " the Lists " seemed to have arrived. He was what would nowadays be described મક તે # keen kiker ". Every Sunday, he joined what was known & s The liadmen's Party" headed by the late Mr. William Hutton, Potts, (familiarly known as • Tin' Potts ) and "r. Edward Osborné ( of the Hongkong and Kowloon Wharf and Godown Coy ) in their explo- ration of the New Territories. It was said that the cause of his illess was the drinking of water from an impure spring near ( I think) Shanghai.
Arthur Bulmer Johnson was admitted in England on Ja- nuary 31, 1867, and in Hongkong on July 4, 1873. Extremely self- possessed and never in a hurry. On the very eve of his retirement from the Colony ( in 1896 ( he was instructing the late ir. Sharp in a case at the Supreme Court, and remained in Court carrying out his duties in connection therewith until he had just time to get on board the vessel wherein he had engaged his passage* remarking to Mr. Sharp, as he (Mr. Johnson was leaving the Court, " Well goog-bye, I must go how, so as to catch my boat.
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