Mr. Justice Manisty, believing that there was no legal evidence,
and fearing, as he says, to subject the plaintiff to fresh ex- penses, instead of receiving the verdict, gave judgment for defendant, with costs. There will, of course, be an appeal ; and the Judge's course has afforded a text for unbounded anim- adversion and open attacks upon his impartiality. Several journals even affect to be shocked that a jury should have been overridden, though the same thing is done every day, usually with public comments on the stupidity of juries. We have given an opinion on the case elsewhere ; but may briefly say here that Sir H. Manisty is believed to have committed no illegality, that Mr. Adams will obtain a final judgment from the Court above at little or no expense, that Mr. B. Coleridge was kept out of the witness-box partly by his lawyers' expectation of a non-suit, and partly by reluctance to give up his authorities, and that the introduction of the Lord Chief Justice into the case by the papers is most discreditable. What- ever blame may attach to Mr. Coleridge, Lord Coleridge had absolutely done nothing, except refuse to sanction, and there- fore to assist, a marriage which he disapproved. If a father's right does not extend that far, what has become of it ?
Previous page
