A RECORD ASSIZE

The Fermanagh Assizes which concluded on Tuesday afternoon were in many ways a record.

We had two days' criminal business, while the number of appeals was the lowest perhaps yet heard at a Spring Assize.

The judges were received like royalty, and at the railway stations their Lordships stood before the King's Colour, and reverently saluted it.

On the morning of the opening of the Assizes, the judges were received at the courthouse with a Captain's Guard with King's Colour, accompanied by the band and the corps of drums of the Lincolnshire Regiment.

INSULTING THE CROWN

It is good manners to stand in Court when the judge enters to take his seat, and it is compulsory to stand during the reading of the Commission of Assize at the opening of the court proceedings.

Some prominent Sinn Feiners in Enniskillen were in court and sat in defiance of authority before the eyes of the officers of The Crown.

It really made no difference whether these people stood or sat down, but when the police suffer and insult, they deserve to be insulted.

A Ballyshannon lady on one occasion so lost her sense of propriety that she began to applaud the statement of one of the prisoners, but the only support she got was from some ex-soldiers in the gallery who were drawing pensions from the British Government.

CROWN STUPIDITY

There was heavy challenging of jurors by counsel for the defence in two cases to be heard at Fermanagh Assizes.

The Crown in two instances challenged the jurors, law-abiding and discerning citizens.

In future, the Crown Solicitor should not judge altogether a person's political views by his surname.

There are loyal Reillys and Kellys in Fermanagh, as well as others of the same name who could not be trusted to serve impartially on a jury.