emen who could tag J.P. on to their
names. This is usual when an exciting case, particularly a breach of
promise case, is on. At ordinary times great difficulty is experienced
in getting anyone to attend.

When the Court was duly opened the Inspector read out the charge against
Reginald Morris and Allen Winter, for inflicting grievous bodily harm
and endangering the life of Villiers Wyckliffe.

"How do you plead--Guilty or Not Guilty?" asked the Clerk of the Court.

"Not Guilty," said Reg.

"Not Guilty," said Hal.

"I appear to prosecute, your worship," said Mr. Qurves, rising.

"And I for the defendants," said Dr. Haddon.

Wyck sat by his counsel's side. His head was wrapped in bandages and the
expression of his face was forlorn and miserable. The boys were
permitted to sit at their counsel's side and both appeared quite
contented and serene.

The celebrated counsel, Mr. Qurves, noisily arranged his papers, rose
and opened the case in the blustering manner for which he was famous.

"The case I have to present to your worship I think I may characterise
as unprecedented in the annals of Australian history. It is monstrous
that such a savage act of reprisal should have been conceived in the
midst of the enlightened civilisation of our day. It is typical of a
period of savagery and barbarism, and I venture to assert that even were
we living under such barbaric conditions, when human life was held
cheaply, an act so atrocious as this would not be allowed to go
unpunished. That the prisoners--"

"I object to my clients being called prisoners," interposed Dr. Haddon.

"I bow to my learned friend. I will say defendants--for that they will
be prisoners soon will be clearly demonstrated, so the objection hardly
matters. That the defendants are hardened to crime and wickedness their
callous manner makes apparent to all of us. To view with in-difference
the grave charge of disfiguring a man in such a manner that his life is
ruined stamps them at once as murderers in intent, if not in deed. I
shall have little difficulty in shewing your worship that the crime was
premeditated, and that the defendants were literally thirsting to avenge
themselves in this bloodthirsty manner. I shall shew the Court that the
defendant Morris set himself to avenge a wrong--or rather what his
warped imagination considered a wrong--and, coward that he was, thinking
that man to man would be an unequal match he sought an accomplice in the
man