(_Prematurely Communicated by our Prophetic Reporter._)
Gentlemen of the Jury, for the last couple of years or so you have no
doubt read any number of denunciations of the conduct of the man whose
actions you are now about to investigate. You have heard him abused
right and left. You have seen pictures of him, in which he has been
held up to scorn and public ridicule. You have heard it announced in
all quarters that he is a scoundrel and a thief. And as this has been
the case, Gentlemen of the Jury, it is my duty to tell you that you
must put aside the recollection of these attacks. You must treat the
prisoner before you as if he were immaculate. In fact you must lay
aside all prejudice, and give the man a fair trial; and, Gentlemen, it
is my duty (sanctioned by precedent) to have the pleasure of informing
you that I am sure you will! Yes, Gentlemen of the Jury, having regard
to all the circumstances of the case, I repeat, I am sure you will!
* * * * *
At the National Liberal Club, on Wednesday, Lord ROSEBERY told the
company they were not dancing on a volcano. That may be true, but
it is equally true that the Government, in proposing to remit the
sixpenny duty on whisky, are riding for a fall in (or, shall we say, a
drop of) the "crater."
* * * * *
[Illustration: A WELLINGTON (STREET) MEMORIAL.
GENERAL OPINION (MR. PUNCH) PRESENTS THE MEDAL OF THE HIGHEST ORDER
OF HISTRIONIC MERIT TO HENRY IRVING IN RECOGNITION OF DISTINGUISHED
SERVICE AS _CORPORAL GREGORY BREWSTER_ IN THE ACTION OF CONAN DOYLE'S
"STORY OF WATERLOO."]
* * * * *