The Leinster Express furnishes an account of some extraordinary proceedings
on the 27th of October, in what pretended to be a court of justice, held in Borris, Ossory, Queen's County. Some Orange- men were tried for a riot and assault on the 12th of July. The at- torney for the prosecution challenged every reputed Orangeman on the Jury; but Mr. Schoales, the Assistant Barrister, warned the Jurymen not commit themselves : they consequently refused to say whether they were Orangemen or not ; and a witness, who knew very well that they were Orangemen, refused to speak to the fact. The Barrister, in this case the Judge, justified their refusal. Evidence was given to prove that the prisoners were Orangemen : the trial proceeded, the guilt of the accused was indisputably proved ; but, as a matter of course, they were all acquitted. Four of the Boman Catholic party were then placed at the bar for assaultiug Orangemen. Another Jury was empanelled, of whom only one was a Catholic. The attorney for the prisoners challenged the Orangemen ; but the witness he summoned to prove that they were Orangemen, would not speak to the fact, lest he should implicate himself. So a Jury of eleven Orangemen and one Catholic was appointed to try the Catholics. Seeing the constitu- tion of the Court and Jury, the agents for the prisoners advised their clients not to say a word ; and then, declaring that they would not de- fend them before such a tribunal, left the Court. The Chairman ofe fered to appoint other counsel for the prisoners ; but they gave no sign of assent. The ti ial went on : the Chairnem, who, according to the fine theory, ought to have been the prisoners' counsel, suffered all the
Cr parte evidence to be given without an attempt to show its gross par- tiality ; and the prisoners were found guilty. A fine of trilling amount was imposed ; but the prisoners would nut pay it : they were threatened
with a gaol ; still they were contumacious. The Chairman attempted to effect a compromise, but without success. The prisoners were sent
off to gaol ; but in five minutes were discharged, with an intimation that the affair would not be finally adjudicated out till the Quarter- sessions in January. It would seem that the proreedings were so ma- nifestly, so grossly partial, that the Barrister dared not act on time ver- dict of the Jury. The affair does not require comment : it is only one instance among a thousand of the jusfice which the .Ascendancy Party are willing to deal out to the Catholics.
It is said that a general move among the Assistant Barristers is contemplated : it is found that they have become too much connected with the politics of those parts of the country in which they have been acting.
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