“Mr. Slapperton, I must tell you plainly that I think your conduct is most unwarrantable,” cried Lord Ethalwood, “and will not allow such a gross act of indecorum to pass over without expressing my disapproval of the same.”
There was loud applause in the court as these words fell from the lips of the chairman.
“Order!—Silence!” shouted out the usher, in his usual nasal twang.
“I am sorry to differ with your lordship,” observed Slapperton. “It is not my practice to act in an indecorous manner, but——”
“Silence, sir!” exclaimed Lord Ethalwood. “Your conduct is most reprehensible. Have you no consideration for the young person in the box? Have you no regard for her feelings? I will not and cannot sit on this bench and allow any female to be insulted.”
“Insulted?”
“Yes, grossly insulted! How dare you presume to make such an observation as you have done in an open court?”
“Because I deemed it requisite—for that simple reason. The prisoner at the bar is a poor man, in a humble position in life. It is my bounden duty to see that he is not the victim of prejudice. It is also my duty to lay before you all these facts which bear directly and indirectly on the case, and in doing so I am constrained to be plain-spoken. I don’t create these painful facts. It is no fault of mine that I am, from the force of circumstances, compelled to put questions which, although painful for me to ask, and are perhaps still more painful for the witness to answer, have nevertheless to be submitted. I must tell you frankly that I will not shrink from doing my duty.”
“You cannot proceed, Mr. Slapperton, in opposition to the ruling of the bench. That you know as well as I do,” said Mr. Chicknell.
“But as yet the bench have not decided the point.”