Launceston Examiner (Tas. : 1842 - 1899), Friday 12 July 1889, page 2


OBITUARY. HON. CHARLES MANN, Q.C. Ever since the colony of South Australia was founded the name of Charles Mann has been well-known and highly reepected. The first bearer of the patronymic began life with this century, and arrived in South Australia by the first ship which landed passengers in Adelaide. He was named as Advocate-General, but, quarrelling with Governor Hindmarah immediately after his assumption of the office, he vacated it for the Mastership of the Supreme Court, while subsequently he held other prominent legal positions. His son Charles—whose death has been recorded in our telegrams —inherited all his father's genius, and he succeeded about nine years ago to the post of Solicitor-general and Crown Prosecutor, which had been held by his father 30 years previously. Good tem-psred, shrewd, clever, and most persuaslve of speech, the younger Charles won great success as a lawyer, and when he took to politics, rapidly gained influence among his fellow members. He sat for years as member for Stanley, being a col-league of the late Sir G. S. Kingston— father of the Attorney-General who came to the Federal Council sittings as repre-sentative of South Australia. Mr. Mann, after office as Attorney-General, assumed the position of Treasurer at a most critical period in the history of his colony, and while in that position earned the distinction of floating a loan at the very lowest figure attained on the London mar-ket. For 4 per cent. bonds the amount tendered was £88. This, however, was more his misfortune than his fault, for all his administrative acts were marked by conspicuous ability, and to the day of his resignation he retained the confidence both of Parliament and the country Once or twice he might have had a judge-ship had he been so minded, and, in fact, when Mr. Justice Gwynne retired, the office was in his own gift. He chose rather to advance Mr. Richard Bullock Andrews, Q.C., to that. position, and, to the surprise of everyone, accepted the position vacated by that gentleman as Solicitor-General and Crown Prosecutor. He carried out his duties with excellent tact and consummate ability, and was in all respects a model Crown proseentor. He showed none of the anxiety for conviction which sometimes characterises lawyers occupying his posi. tion, but was always intent on doing justice to the State, while acting with the greatest fairplay to the prisoner. Wealth never flowed into Mr. Mann's pocket because he never pat a high value on money, and probably this was why he closed his practi. cal career to accept an offioe of profit when everything appeared most favourable to a high degree of success. Recently he took a holiday and sought health in foreign climes. During his absence hio wife died, and since his return he has been continuously ill. There is a third Charles Mann still extant, but hitherto he has shown no signs of rivalling the fame of his father and grandfather. Ten years ago all Australia would have taken large interest in the death of so distinguished a native as the hon. Charles Mann, Q.C., then was. But when a Cineinnatus returns to the plough the erstwhile admirers of his kingship soon forget all about his loyal deeds, and centre their thoughts on the successor to his power and dignity.