John Barnard Byles
Encyclopedia
Sir John Barnard Byles was a British
barrister
, judge
and author
of books on law and the economy. He published an influential text on bills of exchange in 1829, commonly referred to as "Byles on Bills".
-merchant from Stowmarket
, Suffolk
, England
.
, where he was a pupil of the renowned Joseph Chitty
, and became a special pleader
. In 1829 he published a seminal work on bills of exchange, A Treatise on the Law of Bills of Exchange, Promissory Notes, Bank-Notes, and Checks, which is commonly referred to as Byles on Bills. He is even said to have named his horse "Bills", so that when approaching, people would utter "Here comes Byles on Bills". He was called to the Bar in November 1831. He joined the Norfolk
circuit and in 1840 he was appointed recorder of Buckingham
, and then in 1843 became a Serjeant-at-law
. In 1857 he was appointed Queen's Serjeant.
Byles once ran as a candidate for Parliament in the Aylesbury
constituency, but lost.
In January 1858 he was promoted to the bench and was later made a Knight Bachelor
and Justice of the Common Pleas
. He often oversaw cases at the Central Criminal Court
in London
. He was described by the contemporary press as being a judge of the "old school", reminiscent of lawyers from Elizabethan times in his predilection for employing old-fashioned sayings and "saws
". He was also a stickler for proper (black) clothing in court, once remarking to Lord Coleridge
"I always listen with little pleasure to the arguments of counsel whose legs are encased in light gray trousers".In January 1873 he resigned as a judge due to his failing health. He then became, on 3 March, a member of the Privy Council
but he died soon after on 3 February 1884, aged eighty-two. He resided in Hatfield House, Uxbridge
.
, but she died in July 1872. Of their children, the eldest son, Walter Barnard, was called to the Bar in 1865 and the second eldest, Maurice Barnard, was called in 1866.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
, judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
and author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
of books on law and the economy. He published an influential text on bills of exchange in 1829, commonly referred to as "Byles on Bills".
Early life
Byles was the eldest son of Mr Jeremiah Byles, a timberTimber
Timber may refer to:* Timber, a term common in the United Kingdom and Australia for wood materials * Timber, Oregon, an unincorporated community in the U.S...
-merchant from Stowmarket
Stowmarket
-See also:* Stowmarket Town F.C.* Stowmarket High School-External links:* * * * *...
, Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Career
Byles studied law and became a member of the Inner TempleInner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
, where he was a pupil of the renowned Joseph Chitty
Joseph Chitty (the elder)
Joseph Chitty was an English lawyer and legal writer, author of some of the earliest practitioners' texts and founder of an important dynasty of lawyers.-Life and practice:...
, and became a special pleader
Special pleader
A special pleader was a historial legal occupation. The practitioner, or "special pleader" in English law specialised in drafting "pleadings", in modern terminology statements of case.-History:...
. In 1829 he published a seminal work on bills of exchange, A Treatise on the Law of Bills of Exchange, Promissory Notes, Bank-Notes, and Checks, which is commonly referred to as Byles on Bills. He is even said to have named his horse "Bills", so that when approaching, people would utter "Here comes Byles on Bills". He was called to the Bar in November 1831. He joined the Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
circuit and in 1840 he was appointed recorder of Buckingham
Buckingham
Buckingham is a town situated in north Buckinghamshire, England, close to the borders of Northamptonshire and Oxfordshire. The town has a population of 11,572 ,...
, and then in 1843 became a Serjeant-at-law
Serjeant-at-law
The Serjeants-at-Law was an order of barristers at the English bar. The position of Serjeant-at-Law , or Sergeant-Counter, was centuries old; there are writs dating to 1300 which identify them as descended from figures in France prior to the Norman Conquest...
. In 1857 he was appointed Queen's Serjeant.
Byles once ran as a candidate for Parliament in the Aylesbury
Aylesbury
Aylesbury is the county town of Buckinghamshire in South East England. However the town also falls into a geographical region known as the South Midlands an area that ecompasses the north of the South East, and the southern extremities of the East Midlands...
constituency, but lost.
In January 1858 he was promoted to the bench and was later made a Knight Bachelor
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
and Justice of the Common Pleas
Justice of the Common Pleas
Justice of the Common Pleas was a puisne judicial position within the Court of Common Pleas of England and Wales, under the Chief Justice. The Common Pleas was the primary court of common law within England and Wales, dealing with "common" pleas...
. He often oversaw cases at the Central Criminal Court
Old Bailey
The Central Criminal Court in England and Wales, commonly known as the Old Bailey from the street in which it stands, is a court building in central London, one of a number of buildings housing the Crown Court...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. He was described by the contemporary press as being a judge of the "old school", reminiscent of lawyers from Elizabethan times in his predilection for employing old-fashioned sayings and "saws
Saw (saying)
A saw is an old saying or commonly repeated phrase or idea; a conventional wisdom. While "old saw" is a common cliché, some consider it a tautology....
". He was also a stickler for proper (black) clothing in court, once remarking to Lord Coleridge
John Coleridge, 1st Baron Coleridge
John Duke Coleridge, 1st Baron Coleridge PC was a British lawyer, judge and Liberal politician. He held the posts, in turn, of Solicitor General for England and Wales, Attorney General for England and Wales, Chief Justice of the Common Pleas and Lord Chief Justice of England.-Background and...
"I always listen with little pleasure to the arguments of counsel whose legs are encased in light gray trousers".In January 1873 he resigned as a judge due to his failing health. He then became, on 3 March, a member of the Privy Council
Privy council
A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a nation, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the monarch's closest advisors to give confidential advice on...
but he died soon after on 3 February 1884, aged eighty-two. He resided in Hatfield House, Uxbridge
Uxbridge
Uxbridge is a large town located in north west London, England and is the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Hillingdon. It forms part of the ceremonial county of Greater London. It is located west-northwest of Charing Cross and is one of the major metropolitan centres...
.
Personal life
Byles married Hannah Foster in Aug 1828 the daughter of John Foster a merchant of Biggleswade, but she died shortly after the marriage. He married in Aug 1836 Emma Nash Wedd the daughter of Mr Joseph Pattisson Wedd, a solicitor of RoystonRoyston, Hertfordshire
Royston is a town and civil parish in the District of North Hertfordshire and county of Hertfordshire in England.It is situated on the Greenwich Meridian, which brushes the towns western boundary, and at the northernmost apex of the county on the same latitude of towns such as Milton Keynes and...
, but she died in July 1872. Of their children, the eldest son, Walter Barnard, was called to the Bar in 1865 and the second eldest, Maurice Barnard, was called in 1866.
Notable cases
- Daniel Good - sentenced to death for murder in 1842. Before his trial, he escaped from custody and the ensuing chase caused the police to set up the Detective Branch for pursuing criminals on the run.
- James Bloomfield Rush - sentenced to death for the murder of Isaac Jermy, the Recorder of NorwichNorwichNorwich is a city in England. It is the regional administrative centre and county town of Norfolk. During the 11th century, Norwich was the largest city in England after London, and one of the most important places in the kingdom...
, and his son Isaac Jermy Jermy in 1849. - Catherine WilsonCatherine WilsonCatherine Wilson was a British woman who was hanged for one murder, but was generally thought at the time to have committed six others. She worked as a nurse and poisoned her victims after encouraging them to leave her money in their wills...
- found guilty of poisoning in 1862. Byles said to the defence lawyer, Montagu WilliamsMontagu WilliamsMontagu Stephen Williams Q.C. was an English teacher, army officer, actor, playwright, barrister and magistrate....
, Q.C., directly after the trial ended: "I sent for you to tell you that you did that case remarkably well. But it was no good; the facts were too strong. I prosecuted Rush for the murder of Mr. Jermy, I defended Daniel Good, and I defended several other notable criminals when I was on the Norfolk Circuit; but, if it will be of any satisfaction to you, I may tell you that in my opinion you have to-day defended the greatest criminal that ever lived." - William RoupellWilliam RoupellWilliam Roupell was Liberal Party Member of Parliament of the United Kingdom for Lambeth from 1857 until his resignation on 4 February 1862...
- found guilty of fraud in 1862 - Frances KidderFrances Kidder-Crime:Twenty-five-year-old Kidder was executed in front of Maidstone Goal at 12 noon on 2 April 1868, following her conviction on 12 March for murder. It was alleged that she had drowned her 11-year-old stepdaughter, Louisa Kidder-Staples, in a ditch...
- found guilty of murder in 1868 - Rev. John Selby WatsonJohn Selby WatsonThe Reverend John Selby Watson was a British classical translator and murderer. He was sentenced to death in 1872 for killing his wife, but a public outcry led to his sentence being reduced to life imprisonment...
- classical translator who killed his wife. Sentenced to death in 1872 but later commuted to life in prison
Books
- A Treatise on the Law of Bills of Exchange, Promissory Notes, Bank-Notes, and Checks, 1829
- On the Usury Laws, 1846
- Sophisms Of Free-Trade And Popular Political Economy Examined, 1849.
- Foundations of Religion in the Mind and Heart of Man, 1875