MRS. FENNELL
’Tis only worse he’s getting.

PETER DWYER
Order, order.

MR. CASSIDY There is only one course for the Bench to adopt, and that is to discharge Mr. Fennell.  He has already suffered enough and any one with such a ballyragging, unreasonable, unladylike, and headstrong wife deserves our sympathy.

MR. FENNELL (with indignation) Mr. Cassidy, sir.  How dare you stand up there in my presence and insult my wife!  You’re no gentleman, sir.  Remember when you offend my wife, you offend me.  Do you hear that?

MR. O’CROWLEY This conduct is obstreperonious, Mr. Fennell.  Mr. Cassidy is a gentleman, and he must not be either insulted or interrupted, while he is judiciously discharging the duties of his high office.

MRS. FENNELL (sighs) Oh, God help us!  The world must be turned upside down when a lawyer can be a gentleman.

MR. O’CROWLEY Hold your tongue, woman, or I’ll order you to be arrested for contempt of court.

MR. FENNELL The next man who says a word to my wife must fight me.

[Buttons his coat.

PHELAN DUFFY (to the magistrates) The Bench must make due allowances for the excitement of the moment.

MR. O’CROWLEY Of course, of course, Mr. Duffy, but we must not have a reoccurrence of such conduct.

MR. FENNELL Meself and herself pulled together all these long years, and I’ll be damned if I’ll allow any one to say a word to her.

[Mrs. Fennell places a handkerchief to her eyes and commences to cry.

MR. O’CROWLEY Order, order, this is a court of justice, and the case must proceed without further interruption or the strictest measures of the law will be adhered to. (Pauses, speaks to the police) Any one who interrupts me while I’m speaking must be ejected from the court.

SERGEANT HEALY
Your Worship’s orders will be obeyed.

MR. O’CROWLEY Now, it was with the greatest of interest that I have listened to the speeches pro and con for the prisoner and never before or since have I heard such logic and eloquence as was used in this court of justice to-day.  I am nearly sure, in fact I’m certain, that since the days when Marcus Anthony delivered his matchless orations before the proud and haughty Egyptians, did such wisdom flow from the lips of any man.  By the judicious application of words and logic we have learnt what uses can be made of the law of the land, and though our reason may convince us and our conscience too, that right is right and wrong is wrong, yet, the law’s the law for all that, and we are Justices of the Peace and must respect the law and abide by it.  Mr. Duffy has clearly proved to us how drink, especially bad and illegal drink, like poteen, can change a man from a law-abiding, self-respecting, and obedient husband into a demon and a housebreaker.  And Mr. Cassidy has also clearly proven on the other hand