Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 14.pdf/387

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The Green Bag.

granted a decree ordering the sale, but provid ing that the money should be brought into court to await the further order of the Court. As quick as the money did come in, he started for Springfield, went to the land office, and invested it himself in public lands at the government rate, and then went back and said to the trus tee : ' There won't be any deterioration of the improvements on these childrerf's land now.'" The following novel answer in a suit against the Yale Record by the Yale University Club, for the bill for a banquet served to the editors, has been printed in the columns of the de fendant paper, but, so far as we know, has not yet been filed in court : The defendants herein answering the greeting of the honorable sheriff, herein respectfully re turn thanks and wish him the same; they have no knowledge of the Legislature of the State of Connecticut having granted the Yale University Club a charter, but if by any possibility it should be the fact, these defendants await from said Legislature a due and ample apology. The defendants claim and insist that it is now a matter of public notoriety, of which judicial notice should be taken, that said club is not nor ever has been capable of furnishing a dinner. Defendants admit that on the last mentioned date it did contract with the said club for a din ner for themselves and their guests, and did attend at said club for the purpose of consuming and enjoying the same, but, instead thereof, the said club negligently, knowingly, maliciously, wickedly, falsely, and fraudulently imposed upon these defendants and each of them and their guests, vile stuffs, decoctions, poisons, mysteries, mixtures, etc., much to their surprise, chagrin, humiliation, mortification, and despair, whereby these defendants have been injured in bodily health. The defendants are entitled to heavy damages, which they refrain from insisting upon, well knowing, to their sorrow, the financial straits of the said plaintiff. Judge J —, of Texas, tells the following anec dote on himself : " In the early seventies, I had just been admitted to the bar and to a partner ship with' my father, who was a venerable mem ber of the bar. We were employed to defend a

man in the Federal Court charged with selling liquor to the Indians, a crime to which there was a very heavy penalty attached. "The District Attorney was a six-foot threeinch gangling son of Vermont, with a very pro nounced nasal twang. The defendant was very nervous about the result, for which he doubtless had good reason. After a motion for a continu ance was overruled, and every dilatory plea that the brain of a skillful advocate could interpose had been disposed of, the trial proceeded. "It was a very warm day and as the case had awakened a good deal of interest, every denizen of the sleepy old village that could find standingroom had squeezed into the court room. "It was my first case, and I realized to the full extent my importance. I would frequently whisper to my father and cast my eyes at the audience to watch the effect, but I was very much disap pointed, when, after the evidence was concluded the Court announced that he would permit only one speech from the defendant's counsel. "The jury were out about three hours, and coming in announced to the Court that they had agreed upon a verdict. As usual the Court ordered the defendant to ' Stand up.' The court-crier called for him, but he did not respond, and search was made amongst the audience, but he could not be found. Whilst all this was going on, I noticed that the District Attorney was eye ing me very closely, and after the hubbub had subsided he arose and pointing to me, said, ' Your Honor, there is the prisoner.' This was greeted by a side-splitting burst of laughter from the audience, lawyers, and court officers. The judge laughed until he almost had a case of apoplexy. "I do not know which felt most ashamed, the District Attorney or myself, but I am sure I w Aild have exchanged places with the defendant wno, on his flee-bitten pony, was splitting the wind on the way to his hospitable retreat in the Indian Territory." To a valued English correspondent, "J. M.," we are indebted for the following interesting note concerning Earl Russell's divorce bill : — Earl Russell, who has gained most notoriety by being petitioner, respondent, and co-respon dent, startled the House of Lords by introducing a bill to facilitate divorce.