Sir William Moore Johnson, 1st Baronet, KC, PC (1828 – 9 December 1918)[1] was an Irish politician, barrister and judge. He was held in great affection by the Bar, despite a reputation for obtuseness which led to his nickname "Wooden-headed Billy". He was described as "a monument of kindness and stupidity".
According to Maurice Healy, Johnson did not wish to become a judge (largely because Irish judges were rather poorly paid). However, as Attorney General, he caused a furore when, on arriving in Court to prosecute Maurice's uncle Timothy Michael Healy, he publicly shook his hand, and the Crown felt that it would be better if he ceased to be a Law Officer.
As a judge he was notorious for his inability to get the facts of a case right, leading to the nickname "Wooden-headed Billy".[5]Maurice Healy however adds that he was a fairly good lawyer and the kindest-hearted of men. In an era when many Irish judges, such as Hugh Holmes, Walter Boyd and William Drennan Andrews were noted for the severity of their sentences in criminal cases, Johnson was noted for his clemency.[6]
At the Wexfordassize in 1897, he expressed his horror at the brutal murder of James Kelly, a prosperous farmer from Kilcavan, the previous month. He told the grand jury that he would not comment on the case in detail since there had been no arrest. In fact, no arrest was ever made and the murder remains unsolved to this day.[7]
He was created a Baronet (of Dublin) in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom on 24 November 1909 after his retirement from the court that year. He died at his home in Dublin on 9 December 1918, and the title became extinct on his death.[3][8]
Arms
Coat of arms of William Moore Johnson
Notes
Confirmed by Nevile Wilkinson, Ulster King of Arms, 15 November 1909.[9]
Crest
A spur Or leathered Gules between two wings erect Pean.
Torse
Argent and Sable.
Escutcheon
Argent a saltire Pean on a chief embattled Gules a portcullis Or between two cushions Ermine tasselled Gold.
Motto
Nunquam Non Paratus
References
^ ab"Historical list of MPs: M". Leigh Rayment's peerage pages. Archived from the original on 10 August 2009. Retrieved 10 November 2007.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
^ abc"Baronets: J". Leigh Rayment's peerage pages. Archived from the original on 1 May 2008. Retrieved 10 November 2007.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
^"Privy councillors". Leigh Rayment's peerage pages. Archived from the original on 7 June 2008. Retrieved 10 November 2007.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)