The Judge Who Ejected His Own Lawyer: A Tacoma Courtroom Meltdown
In a bizarre turn of events at the Thurston County Courthouse, Presiding Judge Laurence silenced defense counsel Bronston and refused to hear the prisoner's testimony, leaving John Halson to face burglary charges in silence.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
The case of the felony against John Halson occupied the attention of the Third Ward Court nearly all day. Halson is charged with the burglary of Telie-Van & Co.'s store on Wednesday morning last.
During the recital of a chain of circumstances that pointed distinctly at him as the burglar, Halson maintained the utmost self-possession. He is a man of sallow complexion, dark eyes, and a rather spare figure, neatly dressed, his wide-rimmed straw hat being a remarkable feature.
Chief of Police Thompson and officers Ward and Knott testified to having spotted the fellow. The latter before and the others after the burglary, being a strong chance. McLaughlin and the chief learned that he was stopping at the Mrs. Knapp house and by permission of the proprietor went to his room and there found a bottle of whisky, another of powder and tar paste. They then shadowed the man all day Wednesday, the day of the burglary (which was committed early in the morning), and about 11 o'clock at night discovered him go into a vacant lot just above the block where the crime had been committed, disappear back of a board walk and a moment later come out again. The officers went into the place immediately and there, under the board walk, found a knee [knee-bar] and a chisel. They arrested him immediately.
The brace was found by T.A. Bingham, carpenter and contractor, to fit exactly the knocks in the door that had been forced open, and bits which were found beside the safe and which turned out to have holes that had been drilled into it also fitted to the brace. The night clerk at the Empire House testified that Halson had not, to his knowledge, been in his room Tuesday night or Wednesday until 5 o'clock in the morning.
Halson then went on the stand and testified that he came to the city on Monday, that he knew but few people and they were gamblers; that he went about the saloons, played some stud poker, but that he did not commit the burglary.
His counsel, just about here, raised an objection to a question of the district attorney. Judge Laurence told him it was no use as he was determined to hear all the man's history. If he was innocent and all this was a mere set of unfortunate circumstances he did not want to throw him into prison but he was propose to hear the story.
"That's just it, your honor," began Bronston. "I want to explain—"
"You need not mind, I don't want to hear you."
"But Mr. Corner is asking a question here—"
"You may as well sit down, I won't hear you," exclaimed the Judge, pushing Bronston's chair, from which he had risen, towards him.
"Then I will retire from the case," said Bronston, and taking his hat he walked out.
"You will go on with your story," said the judge to the prisoner.
"I don't care to, unless my counsel is here to see that my rights are taken care of."
"Very well," said the judge, "I shall hold you under $500 bonds for court," and the prisoner was taken away by officer Knott.
This 1890s courtroom drama highlights the tension between judicial authority and due process that remains relevant today. Judge Laurence’s refusal to allow defense counsel to speak, effectively silencing the accused's right to a fair hearing, mirrors modern concerns about judicial bias and the erosion of procedural rights in high-pressure legal environments.
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