Plea for Change of Venue: Fine for Contempt of Court In the Commissioner's Court for China on Saturday morning, Mr. A, T. Steele filed a motion for change of venue in the case of Williams, Franklin and Faison wy. Steele. Not having any attorney representing him, he himself conducted the hearing. Mr. Steele had filed an affidavit but had not actually filed the motion necessary for the change, and he now appeared to file an oral motion into the Court records. Mr. Lurton, by no means convinced as to the procedure, finally allowed the reading, with the statement, "I will entertain your motion orally, thoughi-I may be, in Mr. Stecle—"I appreciate your Honour's kindness." To the stenographer.—"Are you ready?"
Judge Frauklin—Shoot.
There was considerable commotion in the rear of the room at the repartee conducted, Mr. Lurton asking defendant to proceed and fin-
Mr. Steele—Did your Honour say I was taking up valuable time?
Mr. Lurton—You are delaying the Court, proceed.
Mr. Steele then read his motion into the records asking for a change of venue, asking that another Consular Judge be appointed on the ground that the presiding present judge, Nelson E. Lurton, is biassed and prejudiced, being himself an attorney; also that the aims of justice will be furthered if another sit on the hearing; and the change is not asked for purposes of delay and that plaintiff has reputable and credible witnesses in Court.
Upon his request to allow Mr. Stirling Fessenden and Mr. J. W. Schoenfeld to go on the stand, Mr. Lurton ruled that before witnesses were called, the law must be quoted, showing the legality of the procedure. Mr. Steele tried to argue.
Mr, Lurton—Now Mr. Steele, you listen to me a minute: I wish the "law for change of venue shown, please proceed.
My. Steele objected, and after much argument, Mr. Lurton allowed him to register his objection with the stenographer, to which Mr. Lurton then added his ruling.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.