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a sum of money advanced upon a note ready. "I don't think I can take your and not repaid. case," he said. "It presents too many "Who is the party?" asked the lawyer. complications." "Oh, she's a relative of mine." "Very well," returned the man, taking "How nearly related?" his hat, despondently. "But there's one "Very nearly." thing I forgot. Since our double wedding "But, my dear sir," persisted the a child has been born to each of us. lawyer, "you must be more explicit." What relation are those two children "Well, she may be my mother-in- to each other?" law." "May be? Then you are likely to A MERRY JURY marry her daughter?" On the third trial of the case, a jury in Paterson. "I've already married the daughter." N. J. gave City Counsel Edward F. Merry a ver dict of six cents damages for libel in his suit against "Then, of course, the defendant is the Guardian Printing and Publishing Company. your mother-in-law." — News Hem. "Perhaps you'd better hear the whole T T was in Paterson, N. J., •*A place you all have heard of, story," said the client. "You see, a The case was tried the other day year ago we lived together, my son and And we have just got word of I. Across the way lived the widow The verdict which the jury found. Morgan and her daughter Clara. I For feeling grieved and sore married Clara and my son married the They say the plaintiff has good ground. The libel's proved, and what is more, widow. Now perhaps you can tell me After a long-endured suspense whether my son's wife is my mother-inWith caution necessary, law or my daughter-in-law." The plaintiff gets six copper cents The lawyer did not answer. The At which, of course, he's Merry. problem was unfamiliar. He was not SlRIUS SlNNICUS. Tkt Editor will te glad to rtantfor this Jifartmtnt anything liAtfy to entertain tht rtadert of ike Grtm Bag in the way of Itgal antiquities, fatetia, and anttdotes.
USELESS BUT ENTERTAINING The "Knave" in the Oakland Tribune has published several anecdotes about the late Dennis Spencer, of Napa, who was noted as a lawmaker, orator and lawyer. The following story is particularly good : — One day there entered his office in Napa a bright-looking, well-dressed Chinaman. He took a chair and proceeded straight to the point: — "You Mr. Spencer, the big lawyer?" "Yes." "How much you charge to defend a China man?" "For what crime?" "Murder." "Five hundred dollars." The Chinaman said he would call again. A few days later he returned to Spencer's office, gravely placed $500 in coin on the desk before the astonished attorney, and said: — "All lite. I kill 'im."
John is seven and the son of a lawyer. The father is much given to making fine distinctions in evidence, and the boy had often heard his father discuss the technical difference between absolute lying, misstatements of fact and the like. The youngster had been caught in some boyish misdeed, and for once, in a way, though ordinarily a truthful lad, he attempted to smooth matters over. "Son, look me straight in the eye and tell me if that statement is the truth," said the father, severely. "Well, dad, I think that was a misstatement of fact," replied the boy. "It would have been a lie if I had expected you to believe it, but I didn't have much hope." The father will be more careful in the future how he discusses abstract subjects around the house. — Exchange.
