Some of the judges were very tolerant of an artist taking liberties with their idiosyncrasies. The late Sir Albert de Rutzen, the Bow Street magistrate, was an exception. He was most strict, and always had a keen eye for any one whom he suspected of sketching in Court.
During the Crippen trial, a lady who sat next to me, a personal friend of Sir Albert's, warned me to be very careful not to let him discover my object in coming to the court or to appear to be watching him for the purpose of caricaturing him. As I was very intent upon obtaining a nearer glimpse of him, I sent a letter of introduction to Sir Albert and asked him if he could give me a few minutes to take a note of his features. As he was very busy at that time he suggested I might return another day about lunch time, when he would give me the time I required. Perhaps he was rather forgetful, for when I arrived at his rooms at the hour appointed I was told Sir Albert could not possibly see me. But this disappointment did not deter me from carrying out my object, and in due time the cartoon appeared in Vanity Fair.
CHARLES WILLIAMS-WYNN, M.P. 1879.
SIR JAMES INGHAM. 1886.
LORD VIVIAN (HOOK AND EYE). 1876.
To go through the list, and to mention all the caricatures and drawings I have made, would take so long that I can only mention a few of the present-day barristers and legal celebrities, some of whom I number amongst my friends.
Charles Gill, the famous K.C., whom I have known for years, I drew in '91. He is Recorder of Chichester, and a brilliant barrister with a cheerful and wholesome countenance. He now lives the life of a country squire when he can find time to do so.