COURTS(11) Continuation.
258
and devoured literature of all kinds, at an amazing rate, being particularly well informed upon a diversity of subjects. Somewhere about the late "eighties" or early "nineties" he reassembled the whole of the old Hongkong Club library.
He was, as Mr. Fraser-Smith said, "somewhat reserved". But none the less, he was a very charming man and of a particularly even temper.
Joseph Frederick Reece was admitted in England on September 16, 1880, and in Hongkong on May 3, 1888.
He was formerly with Messrs. Freshfields of London, the solicitors to the Bank of England. He came out to Hongkong to take evidence on a commission connected with the failure of the Oriental Banking Corporation, which occurred in the late eighties. He was a partner with Mr. Ewens from approximately 1888 to 1893, when the partnership was dissolved by mutual consent, and the partners thenceforward practised separately. It is related of Mr. Reece, who retired from Hongkong in 1902, and died quite recently, that he was so fond of bananas that he was known as "The Banana Fiend!"
Henry Lardner Dennys was admitted in Hongkong on January 9, 1874, after serving his articles with Mr. J. J. Francis.
He was appointed Crown Solicitor in 1896 in succession to Mr. A. B. Johnson. He was certainly (as indicated by Mr. Fraser-Smith) very level-headed - an attribute which evidently appealed to Mr. Fraser-Smith, who, although apparently a lover of litigation, was a person hardly likely to throw away money in costs!
"Old Mortality" has asked me to mention that for some of the details and relevant dates, in this and the preceding Articles, he is indebted to "The History of the Laws and Courts of Hongkong" by the late Mr. Norton-Kyshe, published in 1898.
The series of articles concluded yesterday dealing with solicitors and barristers who practised in Hongkong many years ago, proved of more than usual interest to many of the older residents of the Colony.
Mr. Charles H. Lammert of Shameen knew Mr. J. J. Francis Q.C., one-time leader of the Hongkong Bar, very well. He sends in the following as a sample of Mr. Francis's Irish wit: Mr. Francis on one occasion pooh-poohed the idea in Court that his client was drunk, whereupon the Chief Justice asked Mr. Francis to define a drunken man. Mr. Francis said, "I consider a man to be drunk when he is lying on the ground, clutching the earth for fear of rolling off."
Mr. Lammert does not say whether the Chief Justice accepted Mr. Francis's definition.
COURTS(12)
In the men who have filled the office of Chief Justice in this Colony, Hongkong has been particularly fortunate. Ever since the days of John Walter Hulme, Hongkong's first Chief Justice, the men appointed to the highest judicial post have been
COURTS ( 11 ) Continuation.
258
and devoured liter ature of all kinds, at an amazing rate, being particularly well informed upon a diversity of subjects. Some- where about the late " eighties" or early " nineties "he" re- assembled " the whole of the old Hongkong Club library.
He wag as Mr. Fraser-Smith sayd " somewhat reserved " But none the less, he was a very charming man and of a particularly even temper.
Joseph Frederick Reece was admitted in England on September 16, 1880, and in Hongkong on May 3, 1888.
He was ?'the solicitors formerly with Messrs. Freshfiads of London 'the solicitors to the Bank of England ) He came out to Hongkong to take evi- dence on a commission connected with the failure of the Oriental Banking Corporation, which occurred in the late eighties. He was a partner with Mr. Ewens from approximately 1838 to 1893, when the partnership was dissolved by mutual consent, and the partners thenceforward practised separately, It is related of Mr. Reece who retired from Hongkong in 1902, and died quite re- cently that he was so fond of bananas that he was known as The Banana Fiend ! "
Henry Lardner Dennys was admitted in Hongkong on January 9, 1874 after serving his articles with Mr. J. J. Francis.
He was appointed Crown Solicitor in 1896 in succession to Mr. A. B. Johnson. He was certainly (as indicated by Mr. Fraser-Smith) very level-headed - an attribute which evidently appealed to Mr. Fraser- Smith, who although apparently a lover of litigation, was a
#
響
person hardly likely to throw away money in costs "!
*
" Old Mortality " has asked me to mention that for some of the details and relevant dates, in this and the proceeding Articles, he is indebted to " The History of the Laws and Courts of Hongkong " by the late Mr. Norton-Kyshe published in 1898.
The series of articles concluded yesterday dealing with solicitors and barristers who practised in Hongkong many years ago, proved of more than usual interest to many of the older residents of the Colony.
Mr. Charles H. Lammert of Shameen knew Mr. J. J. Francis Q. C., one-time leader of the Hongkong Bar, very well. He sends in the following as a sample of Mr. Francis's Irish wit: Mr. Francis on one occasion pooh-pooed the idea in Court that his client was drunk whereupon the Chief Justice aaked Mr. Francis to define a drunken man. Mr. Francis said " I consider a man to be drunk when he is lying on the ground, clutching the earth for fear of rolling off."
Mr. Lammert does not say whether the Chief Justice accepted Mr. Francis's definition.
COURTS (12)
In the men who have filled the office of Chief Justice in this Colony, Hongkong has been particularly fortunate. Ever since the days of John Walter Hulme Hongkong's first Chief Jus- tice, the men appointed to the highest judicial post have been
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.