These men, whom you are virtually defending, have taken the law into their own hands.

Are your witnesses here, Mr.Middleton ?" "Not at present, sir; and when I was interrupted, I was about to ask your worship to grant me an adjournment for that purpose.

It will not be a great hardship to the accused, since we proceed by summons.

I fear I have been too lenient, for two or three of them have absconded since the summons was served." "I am not surprised at that," said the magistrate; "however, you know your own business." Then the police applied for a warrant of arrest against Monckton.
"Oh!" cried Middleton, with the air of a man thoroughly shocked and scandalized.
"Certainly not," said the magistrate; "I shall not disturb the course of justice; there is not even an _exparte_ case against this gentleman at present.

Such an application must be supported by a witness, and a disinterested one." So all the parties retired crest-fallen except Mr.
Middleton; as for him, he was imitating a small but ingenious specimen of nature--the cuttle-fish.