Without Fear or Favour

The Biography of a Career

by A. E. Debenham

(aided and abetted by Marien Dreyer)

Edwards & Shaw, 1966, [First Edition], photographic frontispiece, hardcover, dustjacket

Very Good Condition, a little edge and shelf wear, a little rubbing to edges and corners, previous owners inscription on front endpaper, foxing to fore-edges, dustjacket shows some edge and shelf wear with some rubbing and bumping to edges and corners, some chipping and tears, some insect holes at edges, closed tears  (see photographs)

“In his quarter-century as Chamber and Stipendiary Magistrate, Mr. Debenham frequently made Australia-wide headlines – and on the front page.  His interpretation of justice often brought him into conflict with other authorities, but he always did his duty as humanely as the law allowed.
This is the first time a Magistrate in Australia has set down an account of his work.  Here is the story of a country boy who began his career as a very junior clerk and by his own efforts rose to the peak of his profession.  Mr. Debenham gives the hilarious, tragic, sordid and heroic stories of the lower courts – an absorbing picture of human nature in all its astonishing variety.  It is the story of man  whose innate belief in the dignity of man, and the ultimate goodness of humanity was not tarnished by the administration of the law to “all manner of people, without fear or favour”.
Mr. Debenham’s special interest was in children, and a chapter has been included dealing solely with his handling of children in court.  This is invaluable to all those concerned with the well-being of delinquents and neglected children.
Without Fear or Favour covers the changing pattern of life in Australia in half a century, and is the story of a man who saw the changes develop, and who was partly responsible for some of them, such as Marriage Guidance Councils.”