j K. _ . ^H . to Gbe Xibrarp of tbe of Toronto Bertram 1R. Davis from tbe boohs of tbe late Xionel Davis, Ik.C. LEAVES OF A LIFE BEING THE REMINISCENCES OF MONTAGU WILLIAMS, Q.C. LEAVES OF A LIFE BEING THE REMINISCENCES OF MONTAGU WILLIAMS, Q.C. IN TWO VOLUMES VOL. I. BOSTON AND NEW TOEK HOUGHTON, MIFFLIN AND COMPANY Bilu-rsilic ^rcss, Civmbriigc 1890 CHARLES DICKENS AND EVANS, CRYSTAL PALACE MESS. 13 tDi rat to it. TO THE BEST AND GENTLEST OF HER GENTLE SEX ; BUT FOR WHOSE FAITHFUL FRIENDSHIP IN THE SPRING OF 1886 THIS LIFE WOULD NOT, IN ALL PROBABILITY. HAVE BEEN SPARED; THIS BOOK IS MOST GRATEFULLY DEDICATED. 9, Aldford Street, Park Lane. Jan. 1st, 1890. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. H.EC OLIM MESIINISSE JUVABIT. PAGE My birthplace A legal family My father's one idea We move from Somersetshire to Berkshire Our quaint old house in the Cloisters at Windsor Xeighbours and friends -Visit of Lord George Loftus Why he came amongst us His habits and customs Running up to London How his lordship was "done"- Eton Some popular "Tugs" " " -The last Eton Montem The scene in the grounds " " Levying Salt Her Majesty's contribution Why the institution perished ... .1 CHAPTER II. ILLE TERRARUM JIIHI PR.ETER OMNES AXGULUS RIDET. More about Eton School persecutions Cricket and football matches, and what followed I am elected a King's - - Scholar The masters Concerning Bursar Bethell " " How we rang old Plumptree's bell Sock shops Spankie's love for the aristocracy Heroism of a fag " " " Cellar and Combie "The "long glass "Persons we patronised My tutor The nicknames he gave us His method of punishment Threepence or half a sheep- Impudence of young Seale-Hayne The prtuposter Story of Dr. Keate My only Hogging My tutor's version of tin 1 affair The portrait at the Garrick Club . .11 viii CONTENTS. CHAPTEK III. Qui FIT, MAECENAS, UT NEMO, QUAM SIBI SORTEM SEU RATIO DEDERIT, SEU FORS OBJECERIT, ILLA CONTENTUS YIVAT, LAUDET DIVERSA SEQUENTES 1 PAGE I leave school Donation to the head master How should 1 I earn my living ? I interview Montagu Chambers, Q.C. I become a master at Ipswich The work distasteful I resolve to become a soldier A commission obtained for me -Eccentric Colonel Sibthorp Ordered off to Portsmouth " -Detachment duty off Tipner The Forlorn Hope"- The order from the Horse Guards Indignation of Sibthorp the Arrival of the recruiting sergeants I am to go to seat of war My new regiment I proceed to Dublin A son spree : we shave off the whiskers of an ex-pawnbroker's Unpleasant consequences threatened I eat humble-pie The affair blows over I again change my regiment The fall of Sebastopol ends my hopes The song I composed, and the reputation it brought me A consequence of that reputation ...... -7 CHAPTER IV. ARHA DEFUNCTUMQUE BELLO BARBITOX H1C PARIES HABEB1T. Life at Walnier Unpleasant officers How I offended the Colonel The "Subalterns' Arms" I ask to be ex- changed Our impecuniosity How I humbugged the sheriff's officer I make a bolt for it Jurnbo and I ask leave We proceed to London The newspaper advertise- ment Interviewing the money-lender His terms We " " call upon his friend "- A singular breakfast Merely a " matter of form A disturbance in the street Jumbo and I arrested We are taken before the magistrate and fined " -Visit from Captain Curtis "--The trick played upon us My father and godfather to the rescue I return to Walmer, and leave the service. ..... 39 CHAPTER V. OMNIA VINCIT AMOR. I stay with my parents at Reading Visit from Disney Roebuck Our amateur theatricals We resolve to go on the stage CONTENTS. ix PACK Our early engagements An eventful introduction Miss Keeley hears me ray lines I meet Henry Irving Playing in the Potteries Mrs. Patch Why I went to I )ublin My marriage My wife's parents We take a house in Pelham Street Another provincial tour - - Mrs. "Wyndham Johnny Toole I leave the stage Reminiscences of Keeley Mrs. Iveeley's versatility Adelphi dramas Visitors at Pelham Crescent Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Wigan Mr. and Mrs. Levy The Daily Tele- graph Mr. Edward Lawson I enter at the Inner Temple Frank Bumand He and I write plays together I take a manuscript to Robson The price paid for it . 49 CHAPTEE VI. CEDUNT ARMA TOG^E. Serjeant Parry's advice I enter Mr. Holl's chambers Attend- ing the Sessions The resolution I come to I am called to the Bar My first brief Pleasure gives way to fright I lose the case My despair Hardinge-Giffard, Sleigh, Metcalfe, Ballantine, and others Messrs. Lewis and Lewis Bob Orridge's bet An exception to the general rule . 68 CHAPTER VII. EARO ANTECEDENTS!! SCELESTUM DESERUIT PEDE PCENA CLAUDO. The extent of my practice The case of Catherine Wilson A description of her crimes Our defence What the Judge said Statement by the Lincoln police officer The verdict The accused rearrested A fresh trial Bodies of the victims exhumed Some pointed observations from, the Bench "Guilty"- Mr. Justice Byles His lordship's com- ments in private Anecdote of Mr. F. Mr. Arthur Collins and the point that was overlooked A painful case The subscription, we started My first introduction to Messrs. Lewis and Lewis Reminiscences of Ballantine An em- barrassing position Ribton's verbosity I act as Ballan- tine's junior in a gross case of fraud His advice about f-r fees The little Jewish solicitor . 77 x CONTENTS. CHAPTER VIII. XEMO ME I3IPUXE LACESSIT. PAGE Serjeant Ballantine's weekly custom A case of fraud What Ballantine said to the parson Jews like the Serjeant; but the Serjeant doesn't like Jews A remarkable piece of cross- " examination I am his cussed old father"- Ballantine's conduct towards Clarkson Sparring between the Serjeant and Huddleston Miss Lydia Thompson's action against Miss Marie Wilton The comment of a rising young barrister I desire to join the Oxford Circuit My father's peculiar objections I join the Home Circuit The giants of those days My first Circuit town Serjeant Shee's kindness Mr. Eussell Gurney, Sir Thomas Chambers, and Mr. Com- missioner Iverr instance of An great fairness . .92 CHAPTER IX. SI XON EURTALUS RUTULOS CECIDISSET IN HOSTES HYRTACID.E NISO GLORIA NULLA FORET. The Hatton Garden murder Pelizzioni charged with the crime " " -Evidence of the landlord of the Golden Anchor Statement of the dying man Witnesses for the defence Accusations against Gregorio The question of the knife The prisoner sentenced to death Excitement among the Italians A respite obtained Interposition of Mr. Xegretti Gregorio traced He is tried for the crime Fresh evidence Pelizzioni put into the box Mr. jSTegretti's evidence Gregorio found guilty of manslaughter An unprecedented state of things Pelizzioni tried again on a second indict- ment He is acquitted and pardoned Which one was guilty? .... 107 CHAPTER X. SI JUDICAS COGXOSCE. A case of sheep-stealing The alibi I set up It is pooh-poohed from the Bench A verdict of "Guilty" What took place " twelvemonths later You condemned an innocent man" -The Drovers' Association take the matter up Her CONTENTS. xi PAGE " " Majesty's pardon The prison doors release a maniac Anticipatory mourning : Hawkins' little joke "A fly-blow in the ocean ". .125 CHAPTER XI. QUI DUO CORPORIBUS MEXTIBUS UNUS ERANT. The Cannon Street murder Evidence of the cook An im- portant letter Mrs. Robbins' testimony Statement by George Terry I call Avitness.es for the defence Great con- flict of evidence : the issue hopelessly confused A verdict " " of Not Guilty -The murder remains a mystery^ My friend Douglas Straight My earliest recollection of him : " " how he cuffed the ears of two small boys The Twins An amusing observation that we overheard . .132 CHAPTER XII. O RUS QUANDO EGO TE ASPICIAM. Number 8, Upper Brook Street A new custom of mine- Mr, and Mrs. Lawson's house at Twickenham The people who went there Napier Sturt and the diamond merchant Sir John Holker's natural surprise Attempt to burn " " down The Daily Telegraph offices I am sent Special to Windsor A case of robbery My curious meeting with London detectives The statement one of them made to me regarding my client I am obliged to leave before the verdict is returned The prisoner's consequent indignation " " A verdict of Not Guilty How the released man treated the police to a champagne supper .... 145 CHAPTER XIII. PAUPERTAS ONUS ET MISERUM ET GRAVE. The Middlesex Sessions An underpaid J udgeship Poor prisoners and their defence Where thieves used to live, and where they live now An impudent little pickpocket I defended East End lodging-houses : a disgraceful state of things Suggestions for reform Midnight rambles in the East End How a friend and I tried the effects of opium The "Bridge of Sighs"- A woman lying in the snow with a child in her arms The poor creature's resolve take her to the . desperate We refuge . .158 xii CONTENTS. CHAPTEE XIV. IXGRATO HOMIXE TERRA PEJDS NIL GREAT. PAGE An amusing case at Bristol Strange threat of a butcher Ballantine makes a mistake The long retirement of the jury The butcher found to be tattered and bleeding A cruel murder The ragged wayfarer and the kind-hearted widow She accedes to his prayer for a night's lodging He becomes her manager and collects her rents A descrip- tion of the crime The man is acquitted He afterwards boasts of his guilt ........ 173 CHAPTER XV. PRO PATRIA XOX TIMIDUS MORI. The Clerkenwell explosion How it originated, and why it failed The accused and their counsel A description of the prisoners Evidence of the informers A letter in invisible ink Incidents subsequent to the explosion- Further evidence The warders in the witness-box- Acquittal of Ann Justice A moving scene Mr.