[Mr. Chester wishes it to be clearly understood that his suggestion of a direct approach to counsel is only put forward because he has witnessed the success of the system in other countries--otherwise, he would not venture to mention such an innovation. In this chapter, at any rate, he desires to assume the _rôle_ of commentator rather than that of an advocate.] FOOTNOTES [34] In the current press for March 20, 1911, there is the following report, under the heading, “_Solicitors Struck off the Rolls_: King’s Bench Divisional Court.--Justices Ridley, Darling and Channell.... Upon the application of Mr. T. Payne, appearing for the Law Society, the following solicitors were ordered to be struck off the Rolls:--Patrick Burke, formerly of Bridge Street, Manchester; Francis Ernest Swann, formerly of Fleet Street; and John Milton Kerr, formerly of Halifax.... It appeared that the statutory committee found Patrick Burke guilty of misappropriation of clients’ money, including £1,000 out of £2,250, handed to him by the Mother Superior of the Order of St. Joseph, for the purpose of purchasing a house at Stafford for the sisters upon their expulsion from France. The papers were sent to the Public Prosecutor and a warrant was issued, but the solicitor could not be found.... Francis Ernest Swann, on October 11, 1910, was sentenced to five years’ penal servitude at the Central Criminal Court for the fraudulent conversion of £1,700.... John Milton Kerr was convicted at Leeds in November last of the fraudulent conversion of £1,976, and sentenced to three years’ penal servitude.” [35] _Legal Anecdotes_, edited by John Timbs. CHAPTER XII THE MORALITY BILL, ACCESSION AND CORONATION DECLARATIONS AND OATHS I. THE MORALITY BILL The Morality Bill, so designated because of its peculiar provisions, contains some instructive reading. The most questionable provision in the Bill is formed by a portion of sub-section (1), section 9. “If any woman, who is a prostitute or a reputed prostitute, shall permit any boy to have connection with her ... such woman shall be guilty of a misdemeanour, and shall be liable upon conviction on indictment to be imprisoned, with or without hard labour, for any term not exceeding two years.” “Boy” for the purposes of the Bill means a male under the age of nineteen years. Such a provision could scarcely be conceived in any country other than England or America. No doubt it is well-meant, but in the complex state of society in towns, it is almost incapable of being put into practical effect.