County Session Courts in 1900: Newington Causeway

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William Eley & William Fearn Sterling Silver Condiment Spoon London circa 1820
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STERLING SILVER SAUCE LADLE, London, 1785
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Arthur H. Beavan continued his survey of London's courts in Imperial London, 1901, with this look at Newington Causesway County Session Court:

About the other Sessional Courts there is little to remark; but judging from the experiences of His Honour W. R. McConnell, Esq, the Chairman, a peculiar sense of humour must have pervaded his Court over the water at Newington Causeway.

At the end of the nineteenth century, he had the unique distinction of being complimented by the jury through the mouth of their foreman, at the conclusion of business, in the following ornate fashion:

"We wish to thank you for the great help you have given us in the consideration of the many cases you have had to deal with, and for the extremely kind way you have treated us. We also wish to say we heartily appreciate your kindliness, your sympathy, and your merciful consideration of the cases brought before this Court. We hope your lordship will continue to derive much personal satisfaction and happiness from your share in these matters, and wish, as a voluble and satisfied prisoner did earlier in the week, that you may have long life, and that for many years to come you will continue to administer justice so well tempered with mercy."

The astonished Judge could hardly find words in which to thank the jurymen for their kind expressions, but in effect stated that the more he sat in that Court the more he endeavoured to "make the punishment fit the crime."

Next: Criminal London in 1900: Metropolitan Police Courts