Sir John Gray, M.P.—­I wish to state to your worship the unpleasant circumstances under which I find myself placed.  At an advanced hour on Saturday I learned that the crown intended to summon as witnesses for the prosecution some of the gentlemen connected with my establishment.  I immediately communicated with the crown prosecutor, and said it was unfair towards these gentlemen to have them placed in such an odious position, and that their refusal to act as crown witnesses might subject them to serious personal consequences; I said it would not be right of me to allow any of the gentlemen of my establishment to subject themselves to the consequences of such refusal, as I knew well they would all refuse.  I suggested, if any unpleasant consequences should follow, they should fall on the head of the establishment alone (applause).  I said “summon me, and deal with me.”  I am here now, sir, to show my respect for you personally and for this court; but I wish to state most distinctly that I will never consent to be examined as a crown witness (applause).

   Mr. Anderson, jun., here interposed.

Sir John Gray—­I beg your pardon.  I am addressing the bench, and I hope I won’t be interrupted.  Some of my family are going to-night to England to spend the Christmas with my son.  I intend to escort them.  I will not be here to-morrow.  I wish distinctly to state so.  If I were here, my respect for you and the bench, would induce me to be present, but I would be present only to declare what I have already stated, that I would not consent to be sworn or to give any evidence whatever in this prosecution.  I think it right to add that I attach no blame whatever to the police authorities in this transaction.  They have, I am sure, performed their duty in this case with that propriety which has always characterised their conduct.  Neither do I attach any blame to the crown prosecutor.  I simply desire to state, with the most profound respect for the bench and the court, that I will not be a witness (loud applause).

Mr. Anderson—­We don’t intend to examine Sir John Gray, but I wish to say that if the police believed any one could give important evidence, it is a new proposition to me that it is an indignity upon a man to summon him as a crown witness—­

   Mr. A.M.  Sullivan—­I say it is an indignity, and that the crown
   solicitor should not seek to shift the responsibility on the police,
   who only do what they are told.

   Mr. Anderson—­I am not trying to shift anything.

   Mr. Sullivan—­You are.  You are trying to shift the responsibility of
   having committed a gross indignity upon a member of parliament, upon
   myself, and upon many honest men here.

   Several persons holding up summonses said “hear, hear,” and “yes.”

Mr. Sullivan—­This I charge to have been done by Mr. Anderson as his base revenge upon honest men who bade him defiance.  Mr. Anderson must answer for this conduct.  It is a vile conspiracy—­a plot against honest men, who here now to his face tell him they scorn and defy him (applause).

   Mr. Dix—­I adjourn the case till one o’clock to-morrow.