Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 24.pdf/359

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326

The Green Bag

was cited by one of the learned counsel, a citation which wrought some slight confusion in the court-room. "The Court will please observe," re marked this acute counsel, with much deliberation and in a most pompous manner, "that in the case of Shylock v. Antonio, although judgment was ren dered in favor of the plaintiff, yet cir cumstances prevented the execution which had issued from being carried into effect, in spite of that fact." "To what cause," inquired the justice, with a face overspread with perplexity, "did the Court understand the gentle man to refer?" "Shylock v. Antonio, 2d Shakspere, page 235, Johnson's edition," returned the counsel, solemnly. "The Court will there find the case reported in full." The Court unfortunately did not, upon reflection, consider the authority quoted as quite sufficient.

woman, of truly Amazonian propor tions. This woman proved such a good witness for the plaintiff that the attor ney for the defense planned to vitiate her testimony by "showing her up." "You yourself have been arrested, have you not?" he began in cross-ex amination. "Look a-heah!" exclaimed the dusky stalwart, "does yo' think Ise gwine to tell yo' mah private business. I guess not!" "I have the right to know, and you must tell me," the lawyer persisted, and the Judge instructed the witness that she would have to answer. "Ise been arrested fo' lickin' mah husband," the woman finally said, her eyes flashing. "Is that so?" queried the attorney, with satisfaction. "What is your hus band's name?" She told him. "What is his business?" SHE WAS THE CHAMPION "He's a prize fightah," she added, and amid the general merriment that ABOUT the best witness that fig ensued the cross-examination suddenly ured in a case tried not long ago in a Toledo court was a big colored ended. The Editor mil be fiad to rtcenefor this department anything Utofy to entertain Ikt reader! *f the Grcen Bag in the -way of legal antiquities, fatetia, and anecdotes.

USELESS BUT ENTERTAINING Louis S. Thierry, a Boston lawyer, is always telling his friends that "the jury system needs toning up." When they ask why, he retails the following story and vouches for it. Two pleaders met on Pemberton square, one of them raging: — "Why," said "I" — "the jury meets at 4, and it meets at 10, and 1 haven't got my wit nesses ready. What in shall I do? Six hours earlier than I expected." "Don't mind," consoled "C." "My jury meets at 10, and it meets at 4 — six hours later than I expected. Let's swap witnesses. You take mine, and I'll take yours." — Boston Herald.

The Chicago woman was on the witness stand. "Are you married or unmarried?" thundered the counsel for the defense. "Unmarried, four times," replied the witness, unblushingly. — Philadelphia Record. Judge Parry's book, "Judgment in Vacation," is full of good stories. He explains that before leaving the bench he always makes a point of inquiring whether anyone has any special application to make. It seems that in his early days, a man applied the first thing in the morn ing, and complained that he sat the whole of